Portable water systems connected to lawn irrigation systems must be protected from?

Portable water systems connected to lawn irrigation systems must be protected from backsiphonage because this phenomenon can lead to contamination of the potable water supply. Backsiphonage occurs when there is a negative pressure in the water supply system, which can draw water back into the system from the irrigation systems or other sources. This can happen during occurrences such as water main breaks or high water use that creates a vacuum effect.

Protecting against backsiphonage is crucial to ensure that harmful contaminants, fertilizers, pesticides, or untreated water from the irrigation system do not siphon back into the potable water supply, which is essential for health and safety. Proper installation of backflow prevention devices can mitigate this risk, ensuring that the drinking water remains uncontaminated.

While backpressure, cross-contamination, and leaks are also relevant concepts in the context of water systems, they do not directly pertain to the protection required for portable water systems connected to lawn irrigation in the specific context of this question. Backpressure involves pressure created within a system that can push contaminants into the potable water supply but is less commonly a concern compared to backsiphonage. Cross-contamination refers more broadly to the mixing of potable and non-potable water, and leaks pertain to physical