What happens when the water supply at a busy restaurant or office space becomes hazardous due to contamination? Suddenly, a bustling dining area or workspace is disrupted, not by the typical business challenges, but by a preventable health scare affecting every faucet and sink.

This scenario underscores the critical role of backflow prevention in preserving the safety and integrity of drinking water in commercial buildings.

Backflow incidents can halt operations, jeopardizing both health and revenue. Backflow prevention measures help you avoid these interruptions and protect the health of employees, customers, and visitors.

Lee Company’s commercial plumbing team has extensive experience installing backflow prevention systems in various workplace settings, from restaurants and hotels to office buildings and manufacturing plants. Below, we’ll share practical strategies to keep your water pure, your plumbing system compliant, and your business reputation unblemished!

Understanding Backflow

What happens in a plumbing system when backflow occurs? Exactly like it sounds, backflow in plumbing happens when water flows opposite to its intended direction. This can be caused by a sudden change in pressure or a disruption in the plumbing system.

When this occurs, non-potable substances, such as chemicals, bacteria, and waste, can enter the potable water supply. This presents a serious public health hazard, particularly in commercial buildings where large volumes of water are used daily.

Key Concepts of Backflow:

• Backpressure: Occurs when the pressure within a building’s plumbing system exceeds that of the supply water system, pushing potentially contaminated water backward into clean lines.
• Backsiphonage: Triggered by a negative pressure (vacuum) in the supply line, drawing contaminated water into the potable water system.

Both of these backflow incidents can disrupt water purity and the operational flow of entire buildings.

A 2010 study by the Water Research Foundation using backflow-detecting water meters found that 5% of homes experienced a backflow incident of 1 gallon or more annually.

Imagine the implications for a commercial facility! How would your business cope if a backflow incident compromised your water supply today?

Cross Connection and Its Implications for Backflow

When the topic of backflow arises, a knowledgeable plumber might refer to “cross connections.”

A cross-connection in plumbing is essentially where the paths of potable water and non-potable substances intersect — creating a vulnerable point of contamination and elevating the risk factor for backflow incidents.

This connection threatens the integrity of a building’s water supply, making understanding and managing these connections crucial for any commercial facility.

Common Types of Cross Connections:

Direct connections between potable and non-potable water systems, such as:

• Auxiliary water systems, like wells, are directly linked to a building’s drinking water.
• Submerged hoses in pools or polluted water bodies connected to clean water lines.
• Heating boilers are treated with chemicals that connect to make-up water supplies.
• Fire suppression systems are connected to the water system, especially if they contain anti-freeze or other additives.
• Industrial equipment that uses water for cooling or processing.

Indirect connections that might not seem hazardous but can lead to contamination:

• Underground lawn sprinkler systems drawing from contaminated sources.
• Fountains or swimming pools are filled directly from the water supply.
• Public fire hydrants that are being misused or that are unmaintained.

Addressing Cross Connections

Each of these examples shows how easily contaminants can infiltrate potable water systems if your commercial building isn’t safeguarded by proper backflow prevention measures. Have you checked your facility for these risks?

Every connection within your plumbing system must be correctly configured and maintained to reduce the risk of contamination dramatically.

Regular inspections and possibly retrofitting older systems that might not meet current standards for backflow prevention can protect you from unnecessary risk.

Backflow Risks and Issues Caused by High Water Pressure

High water pressure is often perceived as an advantage in commercial buildings. It aids in quickly filling large tanks and containers, reduces wait times at faucets and showers, and helps maintain strong water flow throughout the building. This can be crucial for daily operations, from quick restaurant service to efficient hospital sanitation.

Water pressure in commercial buildings should typically range between 40 to 60 PSI (pounds per square inch). This can be measured anytime using a pressure gauge attached to a hose bib or spigot.

Maintaining this 40 to 60 PSI pressure level supports your general water flow, keeping it steady and consistent. It also facilitates the more efficient operation of plumbing fixtures and water-reliant machinery.

Too low pressure can hamper everything from toilet flushing to the operation of cooling systems, while too high pressure can stress pipes, leading to leaks and premature wear.

Even more importantly, high water pressure can increase the risk of backflow incidents by putting more pressure on your plumbing system than it is designed to handle. This surge in pressure can force water to flow in the reverse direction, contaminating your potable water supply with harmful substances from cross-connections.

How High Water Pressure Triggers Backflow

• Exacerbates existing vulnerabilities: Weak points in the plumbing, such as faulty valves or deteriorating pipes, are more likely to fail under high pressure.
• Compounds the effects of backpressure and backsiphonage: It increases the intensity and likelihood of these backflow types, pushing contaminants more forcefully into clean water lines.

Given these risks, facility managers should monitor and regulate the water pressure to prevent backflow, decrease unnecessary water consumption, and avoid potential costly damages to their commercial plumbing system.

Strategies for Managing High Water Pressure

• Pressure-reducing valves: Install these to maintain pressure at safe levels throughout your plumbing system.
• Regular pressure assessments: Monitor your system’s pressure regularly to quickly detect and rectify potential issues.
• System maintenance: Perform routine checks and maintenance of your plumbing system to ensure all components function correctly and reduce the risk of pressure-related backflow.

Health Risks of Backflow and Cross-Connection Issues

We’ve briefly touched on the potential for contamination, but let’s dig a little deeper into the health risks businesses could face if they don’t take cross-connections and backflow seriously.

Types of Contaminants and Their Health Risks

• Biological: Bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, intestinal infections, and more severe diseases.
• Chemicals: Pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and cleaning agents that may cause skin irritations, respiratory problems, and other serious health issues.
• Radiological: Radioactive materials that pose significant health threats through exposure.

Contamination through backflow can occur via ingestion, inhalation, or direct contact with the skin, making it a multifaceted threat.

Consider a scenario in a commercial building where the water becomes contaminated with harmful bacteria. Not only could this lead to disease outbreaks among occupants, but it could also severely impact the business’s reputation and operational capacity.

Impact on Health

• Employees or customers experiencing nausea, vomiting, or severe dehydration.
• Increased absenteeism due to health issues among staff, leading to decreased productivity.
• Long-term health effects could translate into significant medical costs and legal liabilities for the business.

Besides interrupting day-to-day operations, backflow incidents have severe and tangible impacts on the health of anyone who consumes water from the affected supply. This includes employees, customers, and other building occupants — with the potential to impact the broader community as well.

That’s right, the interconnected nature of our water systems means that cross-connections and backflow incidents in one building can extend their impact beyond its walls by contaminating municipal water lines that serve others in your city.

This can lead to widespread water safety alerts, boil-water advisories, and extensive remediation efforts that disrupt daily life and incur substantial public health costs.

Understanding the potential health risks associated with backflow and cross-connection issues is crucial for every commercial building manager. Implementing stringent backflow prevention measures keeps your facility compliant, protects the health of everyone who enters your facility, and even extends to the well-being of your community at large.

Signs of Cross-Connection and Backflow

Identifying the early signs of cross-connection and backflow incidents can help you avoid the worst consequences. The signs below not only indicate a failure in your plumbing system but also signal that backflow might be imminent.

Primary Indicators of a Backflow Incident

• Odor and Discoloration: Building occupants reporting unusual smells or changes in water color can often be the first alarm that backflow is contaminating the water supply.
• Changes in Water Pressure: A noticeable pressure drop could signify that backflow is occurring, potentially pointing to the location of the problem.
• Disinfectant Residual Reduction: A sudden decrease in the disinfectant level in your water can indicate contamination from backflow.
• Reverse Running Water Meters: During a backflow event, water meters may run in reverse, signaling reversed flow.

Effective Monitoring and Response

Catching these indicators quickly can prevent a full-scale emergency. That’s why facility managers should implement strict monitoring and response protocols, including:

• Regular staff training to recognize the signs of backflow and respond accordingly.
• Routine inspections by a professional of water quality and pressure throughout your facility.
• Installation of backflow prevention devices on all potential cross-connection points.
• Emergency response plans that outline steps to take if a backflow event occurs.

By being aware and proactive and implementing preventative plumbing maintenance, you can safeguard your potable water from contamination.

Backflow Prevention Systems

Installing effective backflow prevention systems is the best way to prevent backflow in a commercial building. But what exactly is a backflow preventer, and how does it work?

These devices are engineered to stop contaminated water from flowing back into the clean water supply so that the water remains safe for use.

Key Components of Backflow Preventers

• Air Gaps: The simplest form of backflow preventer, an air gap is literally an open vertical space between any device connecting the plumbing system and the point where water is dispensed.
• Check Valves: These allow water to flow in only one direction, preventing water from reversing its flow.
• Reduced Pressure Zones: These systems have a pressure relief valve between two check valves to ensure that the system is still protected even if one valve fails.

Backflow prevention devices are essential in commercial plumbing systems, particularly in environments with a high risk of contamination, such as hospitals, dental offices, and manufacturing plants. Due to the variety of chemicals and biological substances used in these settings, each setting introduces unique backflow risks.

As a broader consideration, most municipalities have regulations that require the installation of backflow prevention devices in commercial buildings to maintain water quality.

Regulatory Compliance for Backflow Prevention

As a facility manager, you have a lot to oversee. Still, like most compliance issues, the benefits of staying on top of regulations far outweigh the risks.

The rules regarding backflow prevention device installation and maintenance vary across states and local municipalities, but understanding and adhering to these regulations is crucial for protecting public health and avoiding legal pitfalls.

If you’re not sure whether your building complies with backflow prevention requirements, start by familiarizing yourself with local and state regulations.

General Requirements and Regulations

• Mandatory Installation: Installation of backflow preventers is required in most commercial properties to prevent water contamination.
• Annual Inspections: Systems must be inspected annually by certified professionals to ensure they function correctly.
• Variability in Regulations: Requirements can differ based on the type of business and the volume of water it uses.

Installing the right equipment is only part of the solution. Regular testing and maintenance are also critical components to ensure backflow prevention devices continue to function correctly.

Effective Compliance Strategies

• Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with local and national regulations.
• Regular Testing: Test backflow prevention assemblies after installation, repairs, or adjustments and annually after that.
• Professional Guidance: Work with certified professionals specializing in backflow testing and prevention.

Secure Your Water Quality with Lee Company

Through proper backflow prevention device installation, ongoing maintenance, and diligent attention to regulatory compliance, your commercial plumbing system will remain efficient, effective, and, above all, safe.

But for business owners and facility managers who have a million other things to worry about, it can be challenging to keep up with these requirements. Partnering with a professional plumbing service provider can help you stay on top of all backflow prevention regulations and requirements, allowing you to focus on running your business.

Why Partner with Lee Company for Backflow Prevention Services?

From installation to repair and maintenance, Lee Company handles all aspects of plumbing and backflow prevention. Our team is highly trained and equipped to manage any plumbing challenge in commercial settings.

Emergencies don’t wait, and neither do we. Lee Company offers round-the-clock support to keep your business running smoothly. Plus, we stay up-to-date with all regulations and requirements so you don’t have to!

Contact Lee Company today for your backflow prevention needs in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, and Georgia. We’ll keep your water system clean, safe, and compliant!