|
Backflow Prevention
What is backflow?
CAUTION!
Your Hose Could Be
Hazardous To Your Health!
When water flows backward through a water system, it is
call backsiphonage or backflow.
When chemicals or bacteria are mixed with the water, it can be dangerous!
The danger comes when any hose is connected to a harmful
substance
(lawn chemicals, cleaners, etc.) If the pressure in the water main drops
while your hose is submerged in contaminated water,
it will be sucked back into your pipes and into your drinking water.
These pressure drops are not uncommon. It can happen anytime
firefighters battle a fire, or when city workers are repairing a water
leak.
Some harmful substances you should be aware of are the
chemicals
used to fertilize your grass or weed killer used on your lawn.
Household cleaners can be harmful if swallowed, as well as the
bacteria in the water from your wading pool or waterbed.
What are cross- connections?
A cross connection is any connection between the potable water supply
(the plumbing in your house, for instance)
and any source of contamination that can affect the quality of your
drinking water (toilet, swimming pool, dog's water bowl, well water)
How are cross-connections harmful?
A contaminant can enter your household plumbing by backflow or backsiphonage
when there is a pressure difference between the potable water supply
and the polluted source. A variety of circumstances can cause the reversal
of pressure that causes contamination.
Why is it important?
In some cases, a large amount of contaminant could be introduced into
the city's
water supply, risking the safety of our drinking water for all customers.
Who is responsible?
Public health personnel, city officials, plumbing inspectors, building
managers,
plumbing installers, maintenance personnel, HOMEOWNERS, as well as
BUSINESS OWNERS. We all share to some degree the responsibility
for protecting the health and safety of individuals and the public from
contaminated drinking water.
Why do cross-connections exist?
Plumbing is frequently installed by persons who are unaware of the danger
of cross connections.
Most of the connections are made out of convenience without regard to
a possible
dangerous situation.
What do I do?
Homeowners can take a few simple precautionary measures
to ensure that backflow or backsiphonage
doesn't occur in their home.
1. An accredited backflow tester should perform testing and repair devices
once a
year per city ordinance.
2. If you have a sprinkler system, you are required by law to have it
inspected once a year and a copy of inspection records (including installation
date, inspection date, inspectors name, repairs and date of repairs) must
be sent to city hall.
3. Never leave hoses submerged in buckets, pools, tubs or sinks.
4. Never use spray attachments without a backflow prevention device. The
chemicals used on our lawn are toxic and can be fatal if accidentally
ingested.
5. Attach a vacuum breakers to your outdoor faucets to prevent backflow
contamination.
6.There cannot be any physical connection between a well system and the
city's water system.
Local Ordinance
The City of Hillsboro has had a cross-connection control
ordinance in effect since 1981.
The goal of the program is to identify, prevent, and eliminate cross-connections
throughout
the city to protect the water supply. City workers can perform inspections
to make sure
that the appropriate backflow prevention devices comply with state and
local policies.
Homeowners who own sprinkler systems are required to send a copy of their
yearly inspection
report to city hall by May first each year. If customers have not done
so this spring because
they are unaware of the policy, they are encouraged to bring it in the
next time they pay their utility bill.
Businesses, schools and hospitals have until September 1 to bring in the
required paperwork.
Those who do not submit the inspection report will receive a letter from
the water department
encouraging them to do so within a reasonable time frame. "For those
who refuse to comply
with the ordinance, we do have the authority to administer a fine and/or
terminate
their water services," says Morgan Marler. She adds, "We do
not anticipate that we will
have to resort to those measures to protect the public's water. We feel
that if we get the
information to the public they will be more than willing to comply. We
are more than
willing to help them comply. Customers can pick up a list of accredited
backflow
testers in the area at City Hall, as well as approved inspection forms.
For more
information, please call Tom Siebert, or Morgan Marler, Senior Water Treatment
Technician at
1-620-947-3189
Accredited Backflow Testers
Ben Stecketee
Earl Peters
|
