Why does a soft drink dispensing machine require backflow protection?
Soft drink dispensers (post-mix carbonators) use carbonated water mixed under pressure with syrup and water to provide soft drinks beverages. Many, if not most, water pipes are made of copper. When carbonated water comes into contact with copper it chemically dissolves the copper from the pipe. This copper-carbonate solution has been proven to be a risk to the digestive system. The Austin Plumbing Code requires that the approved backflow prevention for a post-mix carbonator is a reduced pressure backflow assembly.
