Today, South Jersey Backflow was called out to Toms River, NJ, to conduct an annual backflow preventer test for the town’s public park irrigation system. The Toms River Public Works Department manages several parks, and they contract us yearly to ensure compliance with New Jersey water safety regulations.

The backflow preventer in question was an Ames C200 Reduced Pressure Zone Assembly (RPZ), designed to protect the municipal water supply from contaminants like fertilizers, pesticides, and organic debris that could enter the system through the sprinkler heads.

Initial Inspection and Testing

The C200 RPZ was installed in a partially buried concrete enclosure near the park’s maintenance shed. During our initial inspection, we observed:

• Signs of minor corrosion on the relief valve bolts.
• Grass and dirt buildup around the shutoff valves.
• No active leaks from the unit.

We then set up our test kit and performed a full backflow test:

1. Check Valve #1 – Passed, maintaining 3.2 PSI.
2. Check Valve #2 – Passed, holding at 2.9 PSI.
3. Relief Valve – Passed, opening at 2.3 PSI.

Preventive Maintenance

Although the unit passed testing, we performed preventive maintenance to ensure longevity:

• Cleaned the relief valve seat and diaphragm to remove sediment buildup.
• Tightened bolts on the relief valve assembly to prevent future leaks.
• Cleared vegetation around the unit for easier access during future inspections.

Final Steps and Certification

After completing the maintenance, we:

• Submitted the compliance report to the Toms River Public Works Department.
• Provided a copy of the test report to the park’s maintenance team.
• Scheduled next year’s test to ensure uninterrupted compliance.

Final Recommendations

Before leaving, we advised the maintenance team to:

1. Inspect the enclosure quarterly to keep vegetation and debris clear.
2. Monitor for leaks after heavy rainfall, as pooling water can lead to corrosion.
3. Ensure proper winterization of the system to prevent freeze damage.

Another successful job completed for South Jersey Backflow, keeping Toms River’s public parks safe and compliant!