Today, South Jersey Backflow was in Cranbury, NJ, performing an annual backflow preventer inspection at a single-family home located in a quiet residential neighborhood. The property features both a large inground pool and a lawn irrigation system, both of which require backflow protection to prevent any contaminants from entering the home’s water supply, especially with chemicals used in pool maintenance and irrigation.

The backflow preventer in use was a Conbraco (Apollo) 4A-200 Reduced Pressure Zone Assembly (RPZ), which is well-suited for protecting the household from potential water contamination.

Initial Inspection and Testing

The Apollo 4A-200 RPZ was located near the water meter in the front yard, just before the irrigation system and pool plumbing branches off. Our visual inspection showed:

• No leaks or visible damage to the assembly.
• A small amount of dirt and grass debris around the relief valve, common for outdoor installations.
• Shutoff valves were easy to operate, though they could benefit from occasional lubrication due to the change in seasons.

We proceeded with the full backflow preventer test:

1. Check Valve #1 – Passed, holding at 3.3 PSI.
2. Check Valve #2 – Passed, maintaining 2.8 PSI.
3. Relief Valve – Passed, opening at 2.1 PSI.

Preventive Maintenance

Since the system passed all the tests, we proceeded with routine maintenance to ensure the backflow preventer remains functional for the upcoming year:

• Flushed the relief valve to remove dirt and debris.
• Cleaned the check valve seats to ensure they maintain their seal and prevent backflow.
• Lubricated the shutoff valve stems to prevent them from seizing up in the future.

Final Steps and Certification

Once the backflow preventer was tested and confirmed to be operational, we:

• Filed the compliance test report with the Cranbury Water Department.
• Provided a copy of the results to the homeowner.
• Scheduled the next annual test to ensure the system stays in good working order.

Final Recommendations

Before we left, we advised the homeowner to:

1. Inspect the backflow preventer enclosure periodically, especially before the start of each season, to keep it free of debris.
2. Test the system annually to ensure compliance with municipal regulations.
3. Consider insulating the pipes near the backflow preventer during the winter months to protect against freezing temperatures.

Another successful service by South Jersey Backflow, ensuring Cranbury homeowners maintain safe and compliant irrigation and pool systems!