Happy Backflow Prevention Day

Yeah, so basically backflows go on what are called cross connections.

So basically anywhere where regular drinking water can interact with non-potable water.

So the easiest way to think of this is like we were talking about the garden hose earlier, right? So if you take a garden hose, and let's say a lot of people do this, like you put it in your pool to fill the pool up or something, right? If there's a loss of pressure in the system, it can siphon water.

Everything that's in your pool right up into your home, your drinking water, and even into the surrounding homes in that area.

So that's just one example of backflow, like a back siphonage, that's called, when basically there's a loss of pressure on the system and bad things get sucked in.

Let me tell you, there's some pretty disgusting, gross things that can go in you don't think about that are connected to the plumbing systems.

And then the other example is what's called back pressure, where you have a higher pressure on the outlet side than the incoming side.

And so things like pumps or thermal expansion or some of those things can happen.

can create another situation where water goes back into the drinking water that's not supposed to be there.

So backflow parameters basically sit there, and they're composed of two checks inside.

Two because what we found early on is one check, if something goes wrong, basically it renders the device useless, right? So two checks for that added protection.

And basically when water goes in the wrong direction or flows backwards, right, those checks will close and it protects the drinking water system from getting contaminated.

So it's a fairly simple device.

There's two kinds, what we call testable and non-testable.

Testable devices usually go in what we call high hazard applications, where maybe there's more hazardous stuff that could kill people that could get into the drinking water.

And so those devices usually get tested annually.

and by certified backflow testers.

Again, it's a safety device.

And so you got to maintain them and make sure that they're working properly.

But that's basically how it works.

Well, I was going to ask, technology shapes our industry.

Are there any innovations in testing, monitoring, backflow prevention devices that contractors should have on their radar?

Yeah, so a couple things.

What we're seeing, what Watts has been working on lately is incorporating smart and connected features now into backflow preventers.

So you think of these old mechanical devices, right? Now they have sensors built into them for a couple of things.

Yeah, so basically backflows go on what are called cross connections.

So basically anywhere where regular drinking water can interact with non-potable water.

So the easiest way to think of this is like we were talking about the garden hose earlier, right? So if you take a garden hose, and let's say a lot of people do this, like you put it in your pool to fill the pool up or something, right? If there's a loss of pressure in the system, it can siphon water.

Everything that's in your pool right up into your home, your drinking water, and even into the surrounding homes in that area.

So that's just one example of backflow, like a back siphonage, that's called, when basically there's a loss of pressure on the system and bad things get sucked in.

Let me tell you, there's some pretty disgusting, gross things that can go in you don't think about that are connected to the plumbing systems.

And then the other example is what's called back pressure, where you have a higher pressure on the outlet side than the incoming side.

And so things like pumps or thermal expansion or some of those things can happen.

can create another situation where water goes back into the drinking water that's not supposed to be there.

So backflow parameters basically sit there, and they're composed of two checks inside.

Two because what we found early on is one check, if something goes wrong, basically it renders the device useless, right? So two checks for that added protection.

And basically when water goes in the wrong direction or flows backwards, right, those checks will close and it protects the drinking water system from getting contaminated.

So it's a fairly simple device.

There's two kinds, what we call testable and non-testable.

Testable devices usually go in what we call high hazard applications, where maybe there's more hazardous stuff that could kill people that could get into the drinking water.

And so those devices usually get tested annually.

and by certified backflow testers.

Again, it's a safety device.

And so you got to maintain them and make sure that they're working properly.

But that's basically how it works.

Well, I was going to ask, technology shapes our industry.

Are there any innovations in testing, monitoring, backflow prevention devices that contractors should have on their radar?

Yeah, so a couple things.

What we're seeing, what Watts has been working on lately is incorporating smart and connected features now into backflow preventers.

So you think of these old mechanical devices, right? Now they have sensors built into them for a couple of things.