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If you
have a water softener, iron filter, reverse-osmosis
drinking water system, air conditoning condensate drain,
dishwasher, or any appliance that filters or handles
potable [fresh] water or fresh air, that also drains to
the waste lines in your home, please study this photo.
What we see here is drain lines from an iron filter and
water softener entering a standpipe drain. What's
missing? An air gap. An air gap is a gap of air between the termination of the appliance drain line and the flood rim of the waste line or sink that it drains to. This prevents contamination of the potable water. This is not just a nit-picky plumbing issue. This is a bonafide safety concern which should be corrected, and the potable water then tested for bacterial or other contamination. |
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Double trouble. It may be hard to tell
from this photo, but this is a double bowl laundry sink,
one of the old concrete types. Into the right bowl drains
a copper line from the AC condensate drain [top circle],
and a plastic drain line from the water softener[bottom
circle]. This is typical in too many homes, and it is
dangerous. Both drains terminate below the flood rim of the sink. If sewage backs up in the sink, the drain lines will be submerged in sewer water! Obviously, this condition can result in contamination of potable water or indoor air. Not good, and certainly not proper installations. Check the appliances in your home to make certain the drains are plumbed properly. |