McWilliams, Denise A.

Texas A&amp;M Repository

L-2430Texas Agricultural Extension ServiceAvoid Back-siphonage of AgriculturalChemicals into Water SuppliesDeniseA. McWilliamsExtension Training Specialist -Agricultural ChemicalsThe Texas A&M University SystemDoThis...Tex Agrlcultur I Ex1 n Ion Servlc • Zerl L C rpenter, DirectorTh T x s A Univ r Ity 5y tem • College 5t tlon, Texas-1t=>-------------------~---E-n-V-ir-O-n-m-e-n-ta-I-IY-S-a-f-e-p-r-a-ct-ic-e-S _What is back-siphonage?Back-siphonage is a reverse flow of water out of a tank or from apump. When the delivery hose being used to fill the tank is belowthe water surface of a tank, intentional or unintentional shut-off ofthe water fill supply can pull the water/chemical mixture in the tankback up into the delivery hose and back to the original watersource. When a tank is being filled from a well, pond, stream orother water source by a hose connected to a pump, or chemicalsare being applied through irrigation water with chemigation equip-ment, a loss in pump pressure can siphon the tank mixture ormetered chemical mix back into the well or pond through the pump.These back-flow processes can cause pesticides or fertilizers to beback-siphoned from the spray tank or chemigation equipment towells, tanks, ponds, streams, lakes or canals. This will contaminatethe water supply and possibly cause illness or death to man,animals, fish or other plant and animal life.How can back-siphonage be prevented?By installing a check valve in the flow line between the pump andthe spray tank, back-flow of tank mixtures can be prevented. Stateand federal laws require chemigation equipment to be properlyequipped with back-flow prevention devices such as a check valve.Leaving an air gap between the fill hose and the mixture level whenfilling a tank can also prevent back-siphonage. As a rule of thumb.keep the hose above the top of the tank mixture a distance of atleast two times the hose diameter. Always have someone watchingthe tank fill process. Do not leave the hose unattended while fillinga spray tank. Always work above the tank so that the person fillingthe tank can watch that the fill hose and the liquid mixture do notcome in contact with one another and that the spray tank is notfilled to overflowing.---------------------tr1 .I ~-====-________E_n_Vi_rO_n_m_e_n_t8_II_Y S_8f_e_p_r_8c_t_ic_eS-~....or Do ThisDo Not Do This!•-r't--t:=----------------Environmentally Safe Practicesc -si honi 9 can pollute.Today, contamination of a water source can result in a fine and re-quired remedial processes. If others use the water source as drink-ing water, the person contaminating the water source is liable forproviding fresh water to all users. Think about your mixing andchemigation operations. It is worth your time to use safe operatingprocedures and check valves.ESP, Environmentally Safe Practices, is a Texas AgriculturalExtension Service program designed to promote the use ofsafe practices around the home and landscape. Whether oneis working in household activities, home landscaping and gar-dening or in production agriculture, environmentally soundpractices should be used. It is the responsibility of our genera-tion to make wise use of environmental resources and to ex-tend the use to future generations.Funding for this publication was provided by the Extension Service - USDA under the USDAat r QuaJity Initiative.Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people ofI g r ardle of socioeconomic level, r C8, color, sex, religion, handicap, or nationalon in.in furth rance of Cooperativ Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics,of Congress of May 8,1914, s amended, and June 30,1914, in cooperation with theit State Department of Agriculture. Zerle L. Carpenter, Director, Texas Agricultural Ex-n 'on Service, Th T xas A&M Univer ity System.10 - 7-90, CHEM

Avoid Back-Siphonage of Agricultural Chemicals into Water Supplies.

Texas A&M University

L-2430
Texas Agricultural Extension Service
Avoid Back-siphonage of Agricultural
Chemicals into Water Supplies
DeniseA. McWilliams
Extension Training Specialist -Agricultural Chemicals
The Texas A&M University System
DoThis...
Tex Agrlcultur I Ex1 n Ion Servlc • Zerl L C rpenter, Director
Th T x s A Univ r Ity 5y tem • College 5t tlon, Texas
-1t=>-------------------
~---E-n-V-ir-O-n-m-e-n-ta-I-IY-S-a-f-e-p-r-a-ct-ic-e-S _
What is back-siphonage?
Back-siphonage is a reverse flow of water out of a tank or from a
pump. When the delivery hose being used to fill the tank is below
the water surface of a tank, intentional or unintentional shut-off of
the water fill supply can pull the water/chemical mixture in the tank
back up into the delivery hose and back to the original water
source. When a tank is being filled from a well, pond, stream or
other water source by a hose connected to a pump, or chemicals
are being applied through irrigation water with chemigation equip-
ment, a loss in pump pressure can siphon the tank mixture or
metered chemical mix back into the well or pond through the pump.
These back-flow processes can cause pesticides or fertilizers to be
back-siphoned from the spray tank or chemigation equipment to
wells, tanks, ponds, streams, lakes or canals. This will contaminate
the water supply and possibly cause illness or death to man,
animals, fish or other plant and animal life.
How can back-siphonage be prevented?
By installing a check valve in the flow line between the pump and
the spray tank, back-flow of tank mixtures can be prevented. State
and federal laws require chemigation equipment to be properly
equipped with back-flow prevention devices such as a check valve.
Leaving an air gap between the fill hose and the mixture level when
filling a tank can also prevent back-siphonage. As a rule of thumb.
keep the hose above the top of the tank mixture a distance of at
least two times the hose diameter. Always have someone watching
the tank fill process. Do not leave the hose unattended while filling
a spray tank. Always work above the tank so that the person filling
the tank can watch that the fill hose and the liquid mixture do not
come in contact with one another and that the spray tank is not
filled to overflowing.
---------------------tr1 .I ~-====-
________E_n_Vi_rO_n_m_e_n_t8_II_Y S_8f_e_p_r_8c_t_ic_eS-~
....or Do This
Do Not Do This!
•
-r't--t:=----------------
Environmentally Safe Practices
c -si honi 9 can pollute.
Today, contamination of a water source can result in a fine and re-
quired remedial processes. If others use the water source as drink-
ing water, the person contaminating the water source is liable for
providing fresh water to all users. Think about your mixing and
chemigation operations. It is worth your time to use safe operating
procedures and check valves.
ESP, Environmentally Safe Practices, is a Texas Agricultural
Extension Service program designed to promote the use of
safe practices around the home and landscape. Whether one
is working in household activities, home landscaping and gar-
dening or in production agriculture, environmentally sound
practices should be used. It is the responsibility of our genera-
tion to make wise use of environmental resources and to ex-
tend the use to future generations.
Funding for this publication was provided by the Extension Service - USDA under the USDA
at r QuaJity Initiative.
Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people of
I g r ardle of socioeconomic level, r C8, color, sex, religion, handicap, or national
on in.
in furth rance of Cooperativ Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics,
of Congress of May 8,1914, s amended, and June 30,1914, in cooperation with the
it State Department of Agriculture. Zerle L. Carpenter, Director, Texas Agricultural Ex-
n 'on Service, Th T xas A&M Univer ity System.
10 - 7-90, CHEM


English

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Avoid Back-Siphonage of Agricultural Chemicals into Water Supplies.

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Avoid Back-Siphonage of Agricultural Chemicals into Water Supplies.

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Texas A&amp;M Repository

Texas A&M University

Texas A&M Repository