Today’s backflow service took us to Brick Township, NJ, where we were called in to perform an annual backflow preventer test at a busy restaurant plaza. The property owner had multiple food establishments on-site, including a coffee shop, a pizza restaurant, and a seafood grill, all of which rely on a clean, safe water supply for cooking and cleaning.

The plaza’s main domestic water line is protected by an Apollo RP4A Reduced Pressure Zone Assembly (RPZ), which prevents contaminants—such as grease, cleaning chemicals, and food particles—from flowing back into the municipal system.

Initial Inspection and Testing

The RP4A was installed inside a mechanical room at the rear of the building. During our visual inspection, we noted:

• Slight water pooling around the relief valve outlet, indicating a minor drip.
• Pressure gauges intact and functional.
• No visible damage or corrosion on the main valve body.

We conducted a full backflow test using our differential pressure gauge:

1. Check Valve #1 – Passed, holding at 3.1 PSI (above the required 2.0 PSI).
2. Check Valve #2 – Passed, maintaining 2.8 PSI.
3. Relief Valve – Passed, opening at 2.2 PSI (within the required range).

Despite passing, the minor drip from the relief valve suggested that the internal rubber seating disc was wearing down.

Preventive Maintenance

To prevent future failure, we performed the following maintenance:

• Disassembled the relief valve to inspect the internal components.
• Replaced the rubber diaphragm and seating disc, as they were showing early signs of wear.
• Cleaned the valve body and flushed out any minor sediment buildup.

Final Steps and Certification

With the repairs completed, we retested the RP4A, and it continued to pass with optimal performance. We then:

• Submitted the compliance report to the Brick Township Water Utility.
• Provided a service record to the property owner for their documentation.
• Scheduled the next annual test to keep them ahead of compliance deadlines.

Final Recommendations

Before leaving, we advised the property owner to:

1. Monitor for any unexpected leaks and call us immediately if they notice excessive dripping.
2. Ensure routine plumbing inspections, especially in high-usage commercial properties like restaurants.
3. Keep mechanical room ventilation adequate, as excessive humidity can shorten the lifespan of backflow preventers.

Another successful job completed for South Jersey Backflow, ensuring the restaurant plaza can continue serving customers with a safe and clean water supply!