Is this item drinking water safe? Yes.  Water flowing through your ELEY reels, hoses, and watering tools stays pure because we use only 100% drinking water-safe internal component materials. From the lead-free brass and rubber seals, down to the assembly lube—it’s all safe. Can the water flow in either direction? Yes.  The internal valve is a ball that simply turns the flow of the water on or off, regardless of which direction it comes from.  You can also set the ON/OFF lever at any position to adjust the flow of water from fully on to fully off, or anywhere in between.  What is the inside diameter (ID) of the valve? When fully open, the interior ball valve creates an opening that is 14mm in diameter (0.55 inches), or just over 1/2" ID. Is the ON/OFF lever replaceable if I manage to break it? Yes.  It can be purchased from this website from the following link.  Ball Valve Lever (Item 2961)