When I'm working in the yard, I'm tempted to take a drink from my garden hose. Is this safe?
No. A standard vinyl garden hose has substances in it to keep the hose flexible. These chemicals, which get into the water as it goes through the hose, are not good for you. They are not good for animals or pets, either, so filling drinking containers for them out of a garden hose is not a good idea unless the water is allowed to run a while to flush the hose before using the water. However, one type of hose on the market is made with a "food-grade" plastic that is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and will not contaminate the water. Campers with recreational vehicles should use this type of hose when hooking up to a drinking water tap at a campsite. Check with a store that sells accessories for recreational vehicles. Even a well-flushed vinyl hose or a food-grade plastic hose can cause problems, however. The outside thread opening at the end could be covered with chemicals or germs from a previous use. Some children in Gainesville, Fla. became sick after filling water bottles from a hose that had been used to wash garbage cans. There is also the risk that chemicals or poisons can be sucked back into the hose, through backflow, and then re-released.
What is Backflow?
When water flows backward through the water supply system, it is called backsiphonage or backflow. When that water is accidentally mixed with hazardous chemicals or bacteria it is dangerous!
What are cross-connections, and why are they a problem?
A cross-connection is a connection between a drinking water pipe and a polluted source. Here’s a common example. You’re going to spray weed killer on your lawn. You hook up your hose to the sprayer that contains the weed killer. If the water pressure drops at the same time you turn on the hose, the chemical in the sprayer may be sucked back into the drinking water pipes through the hose. This would seriously pollute the drinking water system. You can prevent this problem by using an attachment on your hose called a backflow prevention device. This is a way for consumers to help protect their water system. Most water suppliers have cross-connection control programs, particularly in major cities. Their distribution systems are so complex that tracking down cross-connections is a never-ending job. Removing cross-connections is vital, however, if drinking water quality is to be protected.
How do I keep my water safe?
- Never submerge hoses in buckets, pools, tubs or sinks.
- Always keep the end of the hose clear of possible contaminants.
- Do not use spray attachments with out a backflow prevention device. The chemicals used on your lawn are toxic and can be fatal if ingested.
- Do buy and install inexpensive backflow prevention devices for all threaded faucets around your home. They are available at hardware stores and home improvement centers.
What are the causes of low water pressure and should low water pressure concern me?
Temporary low pressure can be caused by heavy water use in your area - lawn watering, a water main break, fighting a nearby fire, and so on. Permanent low pressure could be caused by the location of your home - on a hill or far from the pumping plant; or your home may be served by pipes that are too small; or if the pipes in your home have scale, leaving little room for the water to flow. This is more common in older homes. Low pressure is more than just a nuisance. The water system depends on pressure to keep out any contamination. If the pressure drops, the possibility of pollution entering the drinking water increases. One of the causes of poor quality water in some developing countries is low pressure in the distribution system that allows contamination to enter the pipes.
Many areas have minimum standards for pressure. For example, 20 pounds per square inch (psi) when water use is at a maximum is a common standard (car tires often use 30 to 32 psi of air . Most systems have pressures three to four times the minimum. You can tell you may have low pressure if flow from your faucets at home are much lower than elsewhere in your area - at work, in a restaurant wash room, or in a friend’s home elsewhere in the city, for example. If the problem is your home (more of a nuisance than a potential health hazard), discuss your options with a reputable plumber. You may be surprised to learn that you can also have too much pressure. Some homes need pressure regulators to avoid damaging household plumbing from very high water pressures.
Please Note: The water Division is not permitted to do any work on private property; therefore, the homeowner or a plumber must resolve any problem between the meter and the house.
