I live in Oak Park. A few days ago I received in the mail a very cryptic survey form asking about something called back flow and back flow preventers. My home has a hot water heating system (radiators) installed in 1914 and a Weil Maclane boiler installed maybe 10 years ago. How am I supposed to tell if this boiler has a thing called a "dual check backflow preventer" on it somehwere, and what is a "make-up water supply" anyway? Also, you seem to be saying that every water spigot I sometimes connect a hose to, requires a thing called a "hose bib" with something called a "vacuum breaker" on it. Is that true in Oak Park? If so, why haven't we been told about it before now? Is this something I can buy over at Menards?

Thank you for your questions, these are exactly the types of questions that the ISAWWA Backflow blog was created for. You have asked many different questions so we will attempt to answer them in the order that you have asked the questions.

1) Although not a question, you appear to question the “Survey Request” sent to you by, we assume your local water department. The State of Illinois EPA requires all water systems in the State of Illinois to conduct a bi-annual cross-connection control survey of their water distribution system (excerpt from IEPA Title 35 section 653.801)

Section 653.801 Cross Connection Control Program (Illinois EPA Title 35)
An active cross connection control program shall be adopted and shall include the following:

a A cross connection control survey of the distribution system shall be conducted at least every two years by the official custodian or an authorized delegate.
1) The purpose of this survey is to compile and update an inventory of devices; the survey must consist of a pencil and paper collection of information, conducted by telephone, mail or personal visit to the manager or owner of a specific property.
2) This survey is not intended to include an actual visual inspection of piping or plumbing systems.

2) 10 years ago when your boiler was replaced your contractor should have installed some sort of backflow prevention at the time of the boiler replacement. Sometime a picture is worth a thousand words so, try and find something near your boiler that looks similar to this: See picture below.

If you find it, then yes, you do indeed have backflow prevention installed at your boilers “ make-up water supply”. This is the point in your plumbing system that connects your drinking (potable) water to your boiler system. All water within your boiler system becomes stagnate and non-potable (drinkable) over time. The backflow preventer ensures that the non-potable water in your boiler system does not flow backwards into your drinking water.

3) The thing you connect your hose to that you refer to as a spigot is exactly the same thing as a “hose bib”. Hose bib is simply industry standard language in the Plumbing Profession. Since you indicate that your radiators were installed in 1914 we are assuming that your house was built at the same time and therefore your outside “spigots” (hose bibs) were installed at that time. If this is the case then your outside spigots probably do not have vacuum breakers on them. Yes you purchase these “hose bib” vacuum breakers at anywhere plumbing supplies are purchased. They are very easily installed and will prevent any unintended syphoning of non-potable water back into your drinking water.

We hope that we have been able to address your questions with appropriate and understandable answers. If you need any further detailed information please consult with your local Plumbing Inspector or and State of Illinois Licensed Plumbing Contractor.