Identify and Eliminate Cross-Contamination
Keep Drinking Water Safe and Clean
Backflow testing and repair can identify and eliminate cross-contamination, thereby protecting our drinking water.
Water quality can be compromised by organic contaminants like viruses and bacteria. Inorganic contaminants like salts and metals can also make water unsafe. Some are naturally occurring, and some are from industrial or domestic wastewater discharges.
Discharges from oil and gas production, mining and farming can all compromise water quality. Of course, if pesticides and herbicides from farming or home use enter our water supply, they lower the quality. Organic chemicals or radioactive particles from industry, petroleum production and septic systems all threaten clean water.
The city of Greeley, like all cities in Colorado, monitors drinking water for contaminants. Our water is generally considered safe for drinking and bathing.
But if gray water, ground water, or contaminated water gets into the water supply, you have cross-contamination. And that’s what can cause sicknesses of all kinds.
If you suspect you have a faulty backflow protector in Greeley, CO, you need to give us a call.
And if you are concerned about backflow prevention anywhere in Northern Colorado or Southern Wyoming, we're happy to travel to your location and perform the backflow testing for you.
What Is Backflow and How Does it Occur?
Backflow and subsequent cross-contamination can occur in many ways. Most obviously, local flooding can wash contaminates into a community’s water supply.
However, there are some unexpected residential plumbing errors that need to be addressed.
For example, do you have an older tub or bath sink with a spout below the top edge of the fixture? If so, dirty water may wash back into the clean water supply.
Another place this can happen is in a laundry tub. Is the faucet below the top rim of the tub? Does it get submerged when you fill the tub? If so, contaminated wastewater may be backflowing into the plumbing.
Other household risks include water softeners, washing machines, and dishwashers connected to a building drain with no air gap. Sump pump systems using municipal water pressure are also on the risk list.
And, of course, toilet waste water can flow back into the water supply if there is not a proper functioning vacuum breaker on the toilet.
How Is Cross-contamination Prevented?
We all know our Colorado water is an extremely valuable and somewhat limited resource. This means the need for safe potable water is obvious and ongoing.
All commercial and industrial customers in Greeley must install backflow prevention assembles on their water service lines, fire sprinkler systems and irrigation systems. Residential customers are urged to have backflow prevention assemblies on fire sprinklers and irrigation systems.
Eric Troudt is a Certified Backflow Tester with the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE). This enables Troudt Plumbing to test, repair and install backflow assemblies.
