HOW DOES THE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM BECOME CONTAMINATED?
Where backflow occurs and cross-connections are present you have all of the necessary elements for contamination of the plumbing system and subsequently contamination of the public water system: Backflow occurrence = link + force Backflow occurrence = cross-connection + backpressure or backsiphonage For example, suppose a automatic lawn sprinkler system is spraying a lawn when all of a sudden a backsiphonage occurs due to a fire truck pumping water or water rushing from a broken water main. The resulting backflow from the lawn sprinkler system will flow into the plumbing system and then into the water distribution system. As the water backflows it can suck contamination into the lines through the sprinkler heads, such as insects, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizer, worms, and other contaminants. Once in the distribution lines the contamination could go anywhere in the public water system. CAN CROSS-CONNECTIONS BE HAZARDOUS? Yes, in the old days many disease epidemics were c
