Backflow is, as the name implies, a condition where water flows in the opposite direction than it was intended to. It is caused by a change in pressure in the system and it can allow contaminants to taint a home’s drinking water.
One of the most common culprits of backflow is garden hoses. When the pressure drops, the contents of the hose and anything it is connected to, like a muddy puddle or bucket of waste water, can potentially flow backwards into the home’s plumbing system and contaminate the drinking water.
Thankfully, there is an effective way to prevent this kind of siphoning backflow by using a simple hose-bib vacuum breaker. Check that all taps (faucets, spigots) that a hose may be connected to are fitted with a hose bib vacuum breaker. An even more effective backflow prevention device, called an atmospheric vacuum breaker can also be installed by your plumber.
