What is a method to stop backsiphonage?

To understand why adding air is an effective method to stop backsiphonage, it's important to first comprehend what backsiphonage is. Backsiphonage occurs when there is a negative pressure in the water supply system, causing water to flow back into the distribution system from a contaminated source. This can happen due to a sudden drop in water pressure, often caused by large withdrawals from the system or breakages in pipes.

When air is added to the system, it helps to break the vacuum created during backsiphonage. By introducing air, the pressure in the system can be equalized, preventing the backflow of potentially contaminated water. Essentially, air acts as a buffer that stabilizes the water pressure, thus safeguarding the potable water supply from contamination.

While increasing pressure, adding water, or sealing vents might seem like plausible solutions, they do not effectively address the root cause of backsiphonage. Increasing pressure may not be feasible in all systems, and simply adding water can lead to other issues, such as overflowing or additional contamination risks. Sealing vents can also create further vacuum problems within the system, exacerbating the situation. Therefore, adding air stands out as the most effective and practical solution to mitigate the risk of backsiphon