Smart irrigation design is essential for the long-term health and well-being of your landscaping and plants. A properly designed irrigation system will ensure that water used for landscaping is kept separate from water that you use for drinking. This will help to prevent any contamination that could lead to sickness.
If you have an irrigation system installed in Long Beach, CA, it is crucial that you have a backflow preventer.
Here’s a quick overview of backflow preventers and their benefits.
Everything about Back-flow Prevention
The Uniform Plumbing Code requires irrigation systems to be approved for back-flow preventions. These prevent water contamination from the public water supply from Long Beach, CA.
Back-flow refers to water flow reversed by accidental actions that occur when water systems are connected with irrigation methods.
Back-flow can lead to herbicides, fertilisers and other harmful substances being released from the irrigation system into the public drinking water supply.
Two main reasons for backflow in irrigation systems are back pressure and backsiphonage.
Back pressure is when the system pressure exceeds the pressure from the source line. If a pump is connected downstream to a service line, this could happen. This setup increases the likelihood of back pressure.
Back siphonage is when water is pulled backwards due to a decrease or overall negative pressure on the water supply side. The cross-link of the irrigation line may not have a backflow preventer. If this happens, the contaminated water could be drawn to the source by sprinklers or other emitters.
There are a few types of backflow prevention devices available in Long Beach, CA.
Atmospheric Vacuum Breakers These valves will give you the best overall security, while being the most expensive back-flow preventions. These valves are typically made of brass or plastic and can be either manual or electrical.
They are installed at the irrigation system’s facet, at least six inches from the highest emission stage. The floating disc, which rises from the pressure vessel and seals it off when pressurized, is designed to stop siphonage. It will collapse once it is depressurized to let air flow back into downstream piping.
Pressure vacuum breaker: A PVB, or Pressure Vacuum Breaker, is the next step up from an AVB. This device prevents siphonage. It has a spring-loaded check valve, which closes when water stops moving. There is also an air relief valve that opens to stop the siphon from being broken if pressure drops to 1 psi.
Double check valve assembly A DCV has a pair spring-loaded check devices that prevent back siphonage as well as back pressure on low-hazard systems. It can be installed underground in a valve box, provided you have the appropriate codes.
Low pressure assembly This type of device offers the greatest protection against both types of backflow and is approved for use in high-hazard situations.