Backflow
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In 2006, the family bought a water purification system because of water taste complaints. But after installing the purifier, they claimed the taste worsened and began to smell like feces. Eventually, a plumber discovered the sys- tem had been incorrectly installed with a drain into the home's sewer line. Suction from the pipe brought raw sewage out of the pipe and mixed it with the clean drink- ing water. Approximately 20 other area homes were found to have the same improper installation. Local water managers were also concerned that impuri- ties from a homeowner's system could have harmed the entire area water system because if sewage backups are large enough, over time contamination could spread to nearby homes. CBS4 Denver reported the incident. Dorval, Quebec In contrast, in June 2011, about 200,000 gallons of con- taminated water entered an entire city's water distribution system in Dorval, Quebec. A private contractor mistakenly flushed out a massive underground tank from a hangar at Trudeau Airport and created a backflow situation. CBC Canada News reported the incident. Florida In 2012, another city experienced widespread water con- tamination from cross connections. This city in Florida did not have the proper check valves to keep reclaimed water from mixing with potable water. Consequently, fecal mat- ter and other contents of wastewater were found in the city's drinking water due to inadequate cross-connection safeguards. The Sun Sentinel reported the incident. Likewise, in 2010, a retired plumber in Florida cross- connected his home's potable water lines to his private shallow well (that was fed with chemical injectors), so he could alternate between water sources when watering his yard. However, this arrangement could have caused impu- rities or chemicals from the plumber's home to enter the neighborhood's water system under certain conditions. Pinellas County Utilities recorded the incident. Lake Perry, Missouri Gated communities are not immune. In Lake Perry, Mo., a backflow situation was discovered when a homeowner noticed a strange odor associated with their water in September 2012. A cross-connection was then discovered because a private contractor mistakenly connected the wrong pipes together. Fortunately, although there are roughly 60 homes in the Lake Perry area, only 20 to 30 homes have full-time resi- dents. However, a boil-water order was issued to ensure safety for the whole area, according to officials, even though only five residents were probably affected by the entire problem. The Perryville News Republic Monitor reported the incident. Ontario, Canada Schools can be affected. In April 2011, water impurities closed Iroquois Ridge High School in Halton Region, a regional municipality of Ontario, Canada. During mainte-
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