Your irrigation system makes watering your lawn and landscape more convenient. Within this system is a backflow prevention device, which prevents contaminated water from entering your drinking supply. It works by ensuring water only flows in one direction, stopping any that tries to go the other way to ensure it's clean when it goes into your home or business. Every year, your irrigation system's backflow preventer should be tested to ensure it's working properly and keeping your water supply safe. Because of the vital role this device plays, the state of Tennessee requires by law that property owners have it tested annually. Continue reading to learn more about backflow prevention devices and why you need to have yours tested every year.

What are backflow prevention devices, and how do they work?

All irrigation systems have a backflow prevention device to keep backflow from occurring. Backflow happens when contaminated water flows in the wrong direction and enters your drinking supply, polluting it with various contaminants and chemicals, like fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and even waste. The backflow prevention device works by ensuring it only flows in one direction so that only clean water enters your home or business.

A change in water pressure resulting from a main water line break, a fire hydrant in use, and more can cause backflow.

Why should you test your backflow prevention device every year?

Testing your backflow prevention device every year ensures the safety of your drinking water supply. Because its primary role is to keep your water clean and free of contaminants, it's important to ensure that it is working the way it should. By having it tested every year, you can be sure that harmful contaminants do not enter your drinking supply and that you and others are consuming safe and clean water. It also allows you to catch whether it's not working properly so you can promptly get it repaired before it poses a health danger.

Backflow testing every year is required by law in Tennessee.

Contaminated water entering your drinking supply poses harmful health risks to you and other people. In Tennessee, the testing of your irrigation backflow prevention device annually is required by law. To get this done for your property, make sure you reach out to your local irrigation professionals to have your backflow preventer tested.

Irrigation techs will thoroughly inspect your backflow prevention device to ensure it is not damaged and working properly. They'll also test its ability to stop contaminated water from backflowing. If it passes, you can have peace of mind knowing that it's doing its job in keeping you and your water supply safe. However, if your backflow preventer fails and needs repair, they'll make any necessary fixes immediately.

Some professional irrigation companies will submit the necessary paperwork to the water department proving that you tested your backflow prevention device.

Call us today to sign up for our irrigation backflow testing service.

Here at Picture Perfect Landscapes, we offer backflow testing, which is included in our irrigation startup service, to commercial and residential properties, as well as HOAs, in Memphis, Midtown Memphis, East Memphis, TN, and nearby areas. When you sign up for this service, our team will bring your system back online in the spring, plus perform a thorough inspection of your backflow prevention device. We'll also check the connections from the meter to this device for any leaks and even handle all the necessary paperwork so you don't have to worry about navigating through the entire process! What's more, if there are any minor repairs or adjustments needed, we'll take care of those, too! Give us a call today at (901) 246-7656 to sign up for this service.