Protecting your Drinking Water

The Timaru District Council is committed to supplying water which is safe to drink and has a range of treatment systems to eliminate microbiological contamination and minimise risk to health. There is potential for every property to contaminate the water supply reticulation by backflow.

Could this be happening at your place?

Backflow is the flow of any liquid or contaminant back into the water supply. This happens by either back siphonage or back pressure. Water can be siphoned into the water main if there is a drop in mains pressure. Back pressure might result from a pressurised system directly connected to the water main.

• Common Causes
  The most common cause of back siphonage at a house is the garden hose. Left running in a puddle or underwater it can take the water back into the water main.
• Another common cause of backflow is a bore pump accidentally connected to the public water supply via the house pipes.

Contacts

Frank Monk from the Water Unit monitors backflow prevention requirements within Timaru District Council area but concentrates on commercial properties. Dave Aitken from the Building Control Unit monitors backflow prevention in conjunction with new buildings and alterations.

The domestic situation is largely unmonitored and we require your assistance. Example of backflow:-

A house in Timaru has a leaking garden tap. Instead of fixing the tap the hose is taken from the tap into the sewer. If the water supply is shut off at the main for any reason, back siphonage could occur.

Legal requirements for backflow (are at the property owners expense).

If you have a private bore or a domestic irrigation scheme you are required by law to have backflow prevention.

This is necessary to ensure that we protect our drinking water.

If you would like to further discuss these, please phone 03 687 7200.