Public Works: Insulate Plumbing Now for Cold Weather

Public Works News Release
Insulate Plumbing Now for Cold Weather

The City of Bishop reminds water customers to protect backflow valves from freezing now
before fall's cold nights are here. Even though daytime highs temperatures are still 100 degrees, nights will be getting cold soon. When the nights get cold enough, outdoor plumbing can freeze and be damaged.  Not only can the damage be expensive to repair, the damage can leave the city's water system vulnerable to contamination.

Special valves called "backflow valves" are required by law to be used with irrigation systems. What they do is prevent contaminated water from flowing back into the water system in case there is a problem.  Backflow valves are usually mounted outside near irrigation control valves.

After backflow valves freeze, they don't function correctly and contamination can get into the drinking water as a result.  In addition, to make sure backflow valves work like they are supposed to, City of Bishop staff test all the backflow valves in the city each year.  If the valves don't function correctly because they froze, they have to be repaired, at the customer's expense.

Many products are available for protecting backflow valves from freezing ranging from special blankets to heat tape that keeps the valves warm with electricity when it is cold.  More information is available online or at local businesses that sell plumbing supplies. Insulate your backflow valves now before it gets cold.

For more information contact City of Bishop Public Works at publicworks@ca-bishop.us or 760-873-8458. 
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