Backflow LSUAg C
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sentryx1Backflow LSUAg C
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sentryx1Preventing
Back-flow
Using Valves,
Plugs, Caps and
Seepage Barriers in
Flood Protection
When there is more water
outside than inside a floodwall, x x
levee or building, water continu- Floodwall
ally tries to get inside. Condensate drain for drain
air conditioner
Obvious paths of intrusion
Sewer line x
are sewer drains for the bathtub
and toilet and drainage tubes in
floodwalls and levees. Floor
drains in some areas of buildings failure. A bit of trash stuck on the valve Gate valves close by turning the handle
also could provide such a path. gasket can prevent a flap valve from several complete rotations to slide the gate
closing completely. The advantage of a across the drain tube. Gates provide the
Any drain with its inside
flap valve, aside from its lower cost, is tightest closure possible with valves; the
opening below flood level must
that it reduces back-flow without your metal valve can overcome the resistance of
be blocked.The drains may not
intervention. A 4-inch PVC flap valve small debris. A manual 4-inch brass gate
be obvious – such as air-condi-
costs about $40. valve costs around $110. A hydraulically
tioning condensate drains – so
Gate valves and ball valves activated gate valve costs about $850.
look carefully.
normally must be closed by mechanical Installing any of these valves in an
action but can be automated. existing sewer line is equally difficult, since it
Valves Ball valves close by turning the requires digging up the sewer line. However,
valve handle a quarter turn; this the benefits far outweigh the trouble and
A single valve installed in the
rotates a ball within a drain tube to cost of preventing unhealthy sewage back-
main drain line can prevent back-flow
block flow. A 4-inch PVC ball valve flow, even if you don’t keep surface flood
through several interior drains.
costs about $85. This valve provides a water out of the building.
There are advantages and
more positive closure than a flap and it It may be beneficial to combine a flap
disadvantages to each of the three
will seal even in the presence of some valve (for automatic closure) with a ball or
valve styles:
debris. gate valve that requires manual closure but
Flap valves are the least provides a more positive seal.
expensive but the most prone to
Flap Ball Gate
valve valve valve
Open
Action required None Quarter turn Several turns
Closed
Normal drain flow Back-flow
Caps and Plugs for Open-ended
Drain Lines Tips
When the outlet of a drain is exposed, as it is with drain tubes • Prevent sewage back-flow
through a floodwall or levee, one simple solution to back-flow is to with a valve installed in the main
block the line with a threaded or unthreaded cap. sewer line.
• For back-flow protection
without human intervention, use
Slip-on cap for bare pipe Screw cap for threaded pipe a flap valve. Back it up with a
positively sealing ball valve, gate
Install caps so water pressure tightens the seal valve or plug. More elaborate
valve systems are available.
In a closed sewer system, a valve in the outside sewer line should
prevent back-flow through tubs, toilets and other plumbed drains inside • Caps or plugs may be used
the building.
instead of valves on exposed
If you don’t have a valve, or the valve fails, you may be able to block storm drains to prevent back-
the drain openings inside the building. flow. Flow is blocked in both
To do that, you’ll need to access the openings. For a tub or floor directions.
drain, that may mean removing the strainer. For a toilet, it means remov-
ing the toilet. (Don’t forget to turn off the water to the toilet first and • On open-ended drain tubes,
disconnect the water inlet to the tank.) keep valve gaskets, cap seats and
A product sold for plugging drain pipe is a gripper plug. Tightening threads clean so they will func-
the screw causes the plug to expand and “grip” the inner wall of the tion properly. Know where
pipe. A 4-inch plug sells for about $4. removable caps are kept.
• In an emergency, prevent
Two styles of gripper
plugs for bare pipe sewer back-flow by stuffing a
plastic bag full of rags into the
sewer pipe at the clean-out.
Seepage • Never use pumps and barri-
The solution to seepage problems, if you have seepage, is to block ers to create a water-level
underground flow with a barrier that increases the distance water
difference of more than 3 feet
must travel through the ground to get past your barrier.
without proper design by a
Most Louisiana soils have more than 30 percent clay content, so competent professional.
seepage is not a significant problem for floods shorter than two days.
However, if the soil was imported for construction of the building,
the rate of seepage should be determined. This is done using the
percolation test commonly used to determine whether a septic system
will drain properly.
Visit our website: www.agctr.lsu.edu
Additional flood protection and recovery information is available from parish offices of Louisiana State University Agricultural Center,
the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service or from our website at William B. Richardson, Chancellor
www.louisianafloods.org Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service,
Extension’s flood mitigation work is supported by the Federal Emergency Management Jack L. Bagent, Vice Chancellor and Director
Agency through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The HMGP is administered in
Pub 2770 10/99 (27.5M)
Louisiana by the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of
David Bankston, Ph.D., Specialist (Engineering) Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with
Pat Skinner, Disaster Programs Coordinator the United States Department of Agriculture. The Louisiana
Cooperative Extension Service provides equal opportunities
Claudette Reichel, Ed.D., Specialist (Housing) in programs and employment.
