What is required to protect a water supply during pesticide mixing?

Using a back-flow protection device is essential for preventing contaminants, such as pesticides, from entering the water supply during mixing operations. This device works by ensuring that water can only flow in one direction, preventing any potential backflow of contaminated water into the public water system or other water sources.

Installing back-flow prevention mechanisms is a standard practice in pesticide application to mitigate the risk of pollution and safeguard public health. This practice is especially critical around water supplies, where any cross-contamination could lead to serious environmental and health issues.

Other options, such as allowing runoff into nearby water sources or mixing without any protective devices, would pose significant risks to water quality and are not compliant with safety regulations. Moreover, using only gravity-fed systems may not provide adequate protection against backflow, making a dedicated back-flow protection device a necessary safeguard during pesticide mixing.