SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING CONTAMINANT INTRUSION IN WATER SUPPLY NETWORKS

摘要

The system for preventing contaminant intrusion in water supply networks having at least one water reservoir and a plurality of interconnected underground water supply pipes extending therefrom includes at least one pneumatic pump and at least one water pressure sensor which communicate with the pipes. The pump draws ambient air from the atmosphere and pumps that air into one or more of the pipes under pressure, in the event that the sensor detects a water pressure below a predetermined threshold within the pipes. Thus, the pressure within the pipe(s) remains higher than the ambient pressure of the material surrounding the pipe(s), to prevent the incursion of microbes, chemicals, and/or other foreign matter into the water supply pipe(s) through any cracks, imperfect joints, and/or other discontinuities in the pipe walls.

主权项

1. A system for preventing contaminant intrusion in a water supply network having at least one water reservoir and a plurality of interconnected underground water supply pipes extending therefrom, the system comprising:
at least one pneumatic pump communicating with a corresponding one of the water supply pipes, the pump extending above a ground surface and selectively drawing air from the atmosphere and pumping the atmospheric air into the water supply pipes to maintain fluid pressure within the water supply pipes at a level greater than ambient; and a one-way check valve disposed between the pump and the corresponding water supply pipes, the check valve permitting flow of air from the pump into the water supply pipe and preventing flow from the water supply pipe back to the pump.