Backflow & Cross-Connection Prevention

Backflow prevention is essential in keeping our water safe. Most homes and businesses have backflow-prevention devices in place, to stop the chance of contaminating the community water supply via a building's internal plumbing, or from water that has been released, for use, being drawn back into a building's plumbing system. If there is a loss of pressure within a plumbing system, which has no backflow prevention device, water that has been released may be drawn (sucked) back into the plumbing and could contaminate water that is being held in the plumbing system. Consumption of this now contaminated water could result in server illness. Once a plumbing system is contaminated, the contamination could be pulled back into the primary water system (community water system) and compromise water for many others. It is imperative for backflow-prevention devices, such as a pressure vacuum breaker (PBV/RPZ), to be checked by a certified backflow assembly tester. It is important to note that this certification is more than just a plumbing license.

One location that these devices are required is on irrigation system plumbing. You may notice them alongside your home. The backflow-prevention device protects you by preventing water that has been released into your irrigation system and lawn from being drawn back into your home, where you could potentially consume it or somehow use the already ejected water should there be a loss of system pressure. In time, you will likely hear more from us on this topic, but we wanted to let you know how backflow-prevention devices are providing you and the entire community with water quality protection. All backflow-prevention devices are required by state plumbing code to be tested annually and rebuilt as needed. Annual inspection results for backflow devices must be reported to the public water supplier, as they are available for verification by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).