Today, South Jersey Backflow was in Clinton, NJ, performing an inspection and service at a local hotel with a pool and spa. The hotel uses a significant amount of water for the pool, spa, and hotel operations, requiring robust backflow protection to prevent contamination of the public water supply. The backflow preventer installed is the A.Y. McDonald 747-01 RPZ, a high-quality solution for commercial properties like this one that have complex plumbing systems with potential for cross-contamination.

Initial Inspection and Testing

The A.Y. McDonald 747-01 RPZ was located in the utility room near the hotel’s mechanical systems for the pool and spa. Our visual inspection showed:

• No visible leaks or damage to the backflow preventer.
• Some scale buildup around the relief valve, which is common in pool and spa systems due to chemical treatments.
• Shutoff valves working well, but slight corrosion was noted on the valve stems.

We proceeded with the full backflow preventer test:

1. Check Valve #1 – Passed, holding at 3.8 PSI.
2. Check Valve #2 – Passed, maintaining 3.5 PSI.
3. Relief Valve – Passed, opening at 2.4 PSI.

Preventive Maintenance

Since the backflow preventer passed all tests, we performed the following routine maintenance:

• Flushed the relief valve to remove scale buildup and ensure smooth operation.
• Cleaned the check valve seats to keep them free of debris and prevent leaks.
• Lubricated the shutoff valve stems to ensure easy operation in the future.

Final Steps and Certification

After completing the inspection and maintenance, we:

• Filed the compliance report with the Clinton Water Department.
• Provided the hotel management team with the completed test results.
• Scheduled the next annual inspection to ensure continued compliance and optimal performance.

Final Recommendations

Before leaving, we advised the hotel’s management to:

1. Inspect the backflow preventer quarterly to clear any debris or scale buildup that could impede the system.
2. Check the pool and spa plumbing for any signs of leaks or issues that could cause backflow.
3. Ensure regular maintenance of the pool’s water chemistry to prevent further scale buildup and keep the backflow preventer functioning properly.

Another successful service by South Jersey Backflow, keeping Clinton’s hotel pool and spa safe and compliant!