When you’re running an industrial business in Queensland, you are subject to hundreds of laws including ensuring backflow prevention according to the Standard Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2003. Backflow is when water in a system of pipework flows the opposite way to its correct direction back into the main reticulation system and water supply.
When the backflow is from a contaminated or polluted source, which is often the case in industrial plumbing, the outcome can be serious, ranging from severe sickness to death in some cases.
Why Backflow Prevention Matters
Backflow doesn’t just affect you and the people on your premises. If the contaminated water enters the main potable (drinking) water supply, it can flow into any other property connected to the water main, affecting a significant number of people. For this reason, every business owner or manager is obligated to get a licensed industrial plumber to fit and maintain backflow prevention devices.
Backflow prevention is especially important if you have more than one water system on your industrial property and there is a possibility of cross-contamination between the two systems. For example, if you have a separate water system that used recycled water for irrigation or industrial processing.
Back Siphonage
Backflow usually happens for one of two reasons. The first is back siphonage, which is when the supply pressure drops due to a leak or a fault. This may be caused by damage to the water main, a failed supply pump or another local user taking an excessive amount of water from the mains. When this happens, you may not notice anything other than a slight reduction in the water flow.
Without a backflow prevention device, low supply pressure causes water from your property to be drawn back into the main water pipework. The risk of this happening increases if your water pipes are cross-connected to a secondary system, especially if you have a booster pump.
Back Pressure
The second reason for backflow is back pressure, where the downstream pressure unintentionally increases at your premises. Anything that increases your water pressure, such as secondary water pumps, industrial machinery, pressure intensifiers and laboratory equipment can cause back pressure.
If any of these are being used on your site, you must not connect it to the water main directly as it will pump water back into the reticulation pipework and contaminate the supply. Inadvertent cross-connection is the most common cause of back pressure. Many industrial processes reduce water consumption by using a mix of mains water and recycled water. If recycled water is pumped into industrial equipment and isn’t prevented from entering the mains water feed, there is a cross-connection.
Need Help with Industrial Plumbing? Brisbane’s EPG Can Help
Do you need a backflow prevention device installed or maintained at your industrial premises? At EPG, our experts have extensive experience providing industrial plumbing maintenance and installation services in Brisbane and around Queensland.
In addition to assisting with industrial plumbing issues around Brisbane, we offer a range of other services:
- Commercial plumbing (Brisbane wide)
- Industrial automation (Brisbane wide)
- Commercial electrician (Brisbane wide)
Call us on (07) 3823 1630 to discuss your industrial plumbing requirements or contact us online.
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