To answer your question directly, we are not aware of any Illinois communities that currently require containment for residential services though there are more and more requiring them around the country. The IEPA does require that a survey be performed every other year for every water customer and that cross connections be eliminated or protected with the proper backflow device or assembly. All communities should have backflow programs that encompass both commercial and residential customers. Whether a community has a “backflow program” or not, it is still responsible to protect the potable water supply from backflows.
Most residential backflow preventers are either on lawn irrigation or fire system sprinklers. A survey can help locate these existing assemblies for you as well as possibly identify locations where backflow protection should be installed.
Along with regulations requiring testable assemblies on fire and lawn irrigation systems, some water purveyors are now supplying and installing a dual check valve at the meter on all residential connections. While not a requirement by any current Illinois or federal regulation, some communities may determine that the cost of containment of each residential service is an effective means to minimize the risks of backflows from the most common source of backflows – the home. Meter manufacturers actually offer meters with check valves built-in. When a meter is swapped out, you can replace and/or install backflow protection at the meter at the same time.
If you do decide to require containment at each service, be sure that steps are taken to prevent damage due to thermal expansion, as you will have created a closed system.
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If you use a meter with an internal dual check valve, remember to include check valve maintenance or replacement in your meter maintenance program. These check valves are easy to replace, but are an added activity for meter maintenance. Failure to maintain these check valves can result in a false sense of security for the water supplier, as it is possible that worn springs or debris are allowing leakage through the valves, or water flow restrictions for the consumer.
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