What does Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly (RPPA) primarily address in high hazard applications?

Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly (RPPA) is specifically designed to prevent the contamination of potable water systems by addressing issues related to back-pressure and back-siphonage, particularly in high hazard applications. High hazard scenarios involve situations where there is a significant risk of pollutants or contaminants being introduced into the clean water supply, often due to pressure fluctuations or reverse flow conditions.

Back-pressure occurs when the pressure in a non-potable system exceeds that in the potable system, which can cause potentially contaminated water to flow back into the drinking water lines. Back-siphonage, on the other hand, happens when a drop in pressure in the potable water system creates a vacuum, drawing water (and any contaminants it may contain) back into the system.

The RPPA effectively mitigates these risks by maintaining a physical separation between the potable water supply and potential contaminants. It does this through its unique design, which includes a pair of check valves and a pressure relief valve. This arrangement ensures that, should back-pressure or back-siphonage occur, the assembly will function to prevent any cross-connection, thus safeguarding public health.

In contrast, the other options relate to different aspects of plumbing and water management—like conservation, regulatory compliance, or general safety—