Backflow Installation & Prevention in SWFL

Southwest Florida’s water supply is a very precious commodity and needs to be protected today more than ever.

Backflow Installation and Testing in Southwest Florida

Here in Lee & Collier Counties, we take clean, running water for granted. In our homes and businesses, clean, clear, drinkable water flows from every faucet. We wash our clothes with potable water. We take showers in drinkable water. However, clean water doesn’t just happen. It’s possible through a complex combination of safety measures, and a backflow preventer is a key part of that protective system. Furthermore, in Lee & Collier Counties, those protective systems are regulated by law.

And for good reason. While clean water flows freely into our homes and businesses, once water is used or exposed to cleansers or chemicals, it is no longer pure. If that water shifts direction in the plumbing, drinking water mixes with water full of contaminants. In the plumbing and water purification industries, this is known as backflow.

What is Backflow & Why Should You Have Yours Tested?

Backflow is the term used for the flow of contaminated water back into the main potable (or drinkable) water supply. Backflow pushes untreated water into the treated water supply, presenting major health concerns

When water enters your home from the main water supply line, it should flow in one direction: into your home. However, when pressure changes occur in the pipes, it can cause water to flow backwards and seep back into the main water supply line.

There are two main causes of backflow in plumbing – back pressure and back siphonage. Back siphonage is the more common concern. It occurs when the pressure in the water supply becomes smaller than the pressure in the plumbing system.

For example, backflow might happen when the main water line breaks, causing dramatic drops in pressure. The same issues may occur when a fire hydrant is opened. When the water pressure drops significantly, not only does water stop pushing forward into your home, it can also flow backwards into the city water lines.

When backflow contaminates the public drinking supplies, things like fertilizer, pesticides, food waste, human waste, chlorine, soaps, and cleaning solutions can show up in the water.