BACKFLOW PREVENTION TEST REPORTS - Australian Institute of ...

American Backflow Prevention
As more recycled water systems are implemented across Australia this incident is a timely reminder
that plumbers and water companies should remain diligent and follow correct procedures.
A recent recycled water incident
Another example of a recycled water service being connected to the potable water service at four
properties in Cape Coral, Lee County has been widely reported by a number of media outlets.
The city’s water and sewerage company became aware of the problem after complaints from several
families were received in July 2003 regarding the pressure and taste of the water. The water is
supplied to the neighbourhood for irrigation purposes only, but one of the families had been using it
for three months.
The city’s contractors failed to dig deep enough to establish which pipe was the correct one to
connect to, identified by tape laid with the pipe during installation.
According to the local health authority, although the irrigation water is filtered and treated with
chlorine, it is not permitted for drinking and can cause gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting
and diarrhoea.
A thorough examination of the 580 properties covered by this recycled system was carried out and
only the original four properties where the owners complained where identified. The City of Cape
Coral was required to spend many hours and US $72,000 fixing the error.
New frontiers in rainwater harvesting
Davey Products has unveiled “an innovative new product in household water saving” – RainBank ® .
According to the company, RainBank ® is the first water harvesting product to automatically switch
between rainwater and mains water supply. A dual-check valve is used to ensure backflow
prevention - a novel development in plumbing. Davey Products cites water saving benefits of up to
40%, which it believes will be popular with builders seeking approval for new designs under BASIX in
New South Wales and 5 Star in Victoria.
The company states that the unit is ideal for installation alongside existing water mains supply
systems as an upgrade. Alternatively, the RainBank ® can be installed as an addition to any water
system built into new structures.
Minimal energy is required for the device, as it does not require mains water to be repressurised and
uses no energy even in stand-by mode. The unit is an automatic means of providing water stores for
the toilet and laundry when supplies are available. If water supplies are low or in the case of power
failure the unit reverts automatically to the mains supply.
Developments have also been made with the standards regulating the product and others like it. Until
recently, standards on combining rain and mains water were set by each state individually, inevitably
resulting in some confusion. A revised, nationally consistent code of practice, ‘The Plumbing Code of
Australia’, has now been issued by the Victorian Plumbing Industry Commision and is being reviewed
by state governments. This is expected to make metropolitan harvesting of rainwater more popular
and accessible.