Below is a summary of some of the regulatory requirements for the control of contamination prevention in water systems:
Garden hosepipes that are sat in buckets holding a pesticide solution are a probable backflow risk. If backflow happens, the poisonous solution in the bucket gets sucked back into the domestic plumbing system where it can be drunk. To stop this, you will need to install some backflow protection. In the home, hose taps are normally connected straight to the water main. Should the mains pressure drop, in order to prevent backflow, they need to have a ‘double check’ valve fitted. This valve is a type of non-return valve, that will stops the water from flowing back into the pipework. Highgate Plumbers can fit all types of valves. By law, a hose must be of a hand type that includes a ‘trigger gun’ type of control, that will automatically stop the flow omnce the trigger is released, and these hoses should never be left with the end submerged.

For non-domestic buildings, such as sports facilities, factories, farms or hospitals, that have hose taps, the regulations demand a higher level of backflow protection because the risks of contamination are bigger. This would normally involve supplying the tap from a water storage cistern, with an air gap to prevent any contamination travelling back into the pipework that is supplying the cistern. A Highgate Plumber is trained to fit taps. In non-domestic buildings, such as sports facilities, factories, farms or hospitals, with hose taps, the regulations demands the same high level of backflow. An air gap will is a good preventor of backflow, just like, the gap between a tap outlet and the top edge of a washbasin, or, if the pipework to an industrial storage cistern discharges above the top edge of the cistern. These air gaps can vary and is dependant on the risk.