It is springtime here in the Midwest and it’s also about that time to turn on your lawn irrigation systems for the first time after the winter. If you have a lawn irrigation system, you are required by the state of Missouri and the municipality in which you live to have a backflow prevention device. You may have already received a letter in the mail about scheduling your annual backflow test. This is a test that ensures the backflow prevention device is working properly to protect your drinking water.
Wait…what? My lawn irrigation system might endanger my drinking water?
Unfortunately, yes it can. Backflow can occur when the water from your irrigation system moves in the wrong direction back into the water supply instead of out of it. This can result in pesticides and other chemicals entering your water line and ultimately the water you use for drinking, bathing, and washing. Water naturally wants to move from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. If the water pressure in the line is reduced say from a broken water line, large amounts of water being used nearby, or the irrigation system being improperly installed, back siphoning can occur.
A backflow preventer will stop water from moving back into the supply line and ensure the sprinklers are a one-way system only protecting the water supply inside your home. It is vital that a backflow preventer is installed in any situation where incoming water and wastewater have a chance of being cross-connected.
Each year, when you turn on your irrigation system, your backflow prevention device needs to be tested by a certified backflow specialist. The test results are submitted to the city in which you live as proof that you have installed the device and that it is working properly.
If you need to have a backflow preventer device installed or tested, now is the time to do and Bono Plumbing can help! Our lead technician and owner, Bob Bono, is certified through the State of Missouri as a Backflow Prevention Device Tester and is a Master Plumber, so you can rest assured that the device will be installed, maintained, and tested properly. We will even send you a reminder when it is time to have your device tested next year! Call our office or contact us through our website to set your appointment.