What is Plumbing?

The installation, maintenance, extension, alteration and removal of all piping, plumbing fixtures, plumbing appliances, and plumbing appurtenances is connected with the following:

a) Sanitary drainage system and related vent systems.

b) Storm water drainage facilities and venting systems.

c) Public or private potable water supply systems.

d) The initial connection to a potable water supply upstream of any required backflow prevention device and the final connection that discharges indirectly into public or private disposal system.

e) Medical gas and medical vacuum systems.

f) Indirect waste piping, including refrigeration and air conditioning drainage.

g) Liquid waste or sewage, and water supply, of any premises to their connection with approved water supply system or to an acceptable disposal facility.

Goal of a Plumber

The goal of a plumber is to protect the health, safety, and comfort of the nation.

Plumbers accomplish this goal in two ways.

1 Plumbers install safe, reliable plumbing systems.

2 Plumbers maintain and repair existing systems properly.

The health and safety of a plumber is just as important as that of the customers.

Besides scalding, one of the biggest health and safety issues facing plumbers today is contamination caused by an improper cross-connection between plumbing systems.

Cross-connection

is arrangement between a potable water system and a non-potable water system in which accidental pressure differential between the two systems causes backflow of contaminated water into the fresh water system.

Backflow can force wastes through a cross-connection.

Several things can cause backflow:

• Cuts or break in the water main

• Failure of a pump

• Injection of air into the system

• Accidental connection to a high-pressure source

When waste water or other liquids are siphoned into the fresh water supply, they can cause contamination, sickness, and even death.

Escherichia coli, also known as E. coli, and Legionella can be spread through backflow from contaminated system.

Note:

Safety devices called backflow preventers keeps waste water from entering the water supply system.

Methods for Making Water Safe

To prevent the spread of harmful organisms, chemicals, and materials through water supply system, water is made safe through disinfection, filtration, and softening.

Disinfection

To disinfect water means to destroy harmful organisms in the water.

Filtration

Filtration is the process of cleaning water to remove particles and chemicals.

Softening

Softening removes magnesium and sodium salt that causes scale on the inside of pipe and fittings.