Ensuring that the water supply remains pure and free from harmful substances is crucial for the homeowners and businesses in Gonzales that I service. Contaminated water can compromise the very foundations on which residential and commercial buildings stand. In most properties, the plumbing system is engineered so that clean water flows in one direction, while dirty water stays in the other. However, if your plumbing system is not functioning properly, it risks back-flowing, which could move filthy water into the clean water supply. A certified professional can assess your plumbing system and diagnose whether you have a backflow issue, how bad it is, and how to fix it. Backflow prevention is essential for water quality and is required by law here in Gonzales.
In Gonzales, the backflow prevention devices that are commonly used include reduced pressure zone assemblies, double check valve assemblies, and pressure vacuum breakers. These devices are chosen based on the level of risk that the water system presents and its specific functional needs. For higher risk situations, like the kind that might be expected in a property with contamination potential, a reduced pressure zone assembly might be the best choice. In lower-risk situations, like those that one might expect in a residential setting, a double check valve assembly might be used. Regardless of the type of device you have, knowing its current condition is key to helping your backflow technician decide on the appropriate next steps.
Maintaining and inspecting backflow prevention devices are essential to avoid serious public health consequences arising from the device's failure. Many local governments, including Gonzales, now require annual inspections of backflow prevention devices as part of their plumbing codes, and these inspections are performed by certified professionals. The inspection itself takes about an hour, but once the inspector begins to examine the device, he or she will test the device using a variety of under- and over-pressures to see if the device can hold back the pressure and, hence, the contaminated water. If the device is not functioning as designed, the inspector will either repair the device or, if necessary, replace it with a new model—thus ensuring that the property owner is once again in compliance with the local plumbing code.