Today, South Jersey Backflow was in Millville, NJ, servicing the backflow preventer at a local restaurant and bakery. This business uses large amounts of water in its kitchen and bakery operations, as well as in the cleaning process. The backflow preventer is essential to prevent food-grade contamination and grease from backflowing into the public water supply. The Zurn Wilkins 975XL2 RPZ is designed for commercial establishments with high water demands, making it the ideal choice for this type of business.

Initial Inspection and Testing

The Wilkins 975XL2 RPZ was located in the restaurant’s equipment room, where it is protected from the elements but still subjected to some wear from grease and food particles. Our visual inspection revealed:

• No visible leaks or damage to the backflow preventer.
• Grease buildup around the relief valve, which is common in kitchens and bakeries.
• Shutoff valves functioning well, but there was a slight resistance when turning them on.

We proceeded with the full backflow preventer test:

1. Check Valve #1 – Passed, holding at 4.2 PSI.
2. Check Valve #2 – Passed, maintaining 3.8 PSI.
3. Relief Valve – Passed, opening at 2.4 PSI.

Preventive Maintenance

Since the backflow preventer was functioning correctly, we carried out the following routine maintenance:

• Flushed the relief valve to remove accumulated grease and food particles.
• Cleaned the check valve seats to maintain a proper seal and prevent leakage.
• Lubricated the shutoff valve stems to ease operation.

Final Steps and Certification

After completing the inspection and maintenance, we:

• Filed the compliance report with the Millville Water Department.
• Provided the restaurant management with the completed test results.
• Scheduled the next annual inspection to ensure the system remains up to code.

Final Recommendations

Before leaving, we advised the restaurant and bakery staff to:

1. Clean the area around the backflow preventer regularly to prevent grease and debris buildup.
2. Inspect the valves periodically to ensure they are not becoming too stiff or difficult to operate.
3. Monitor water pressure to ensure there are no pressure drops that could compromise the system.

Another successful service by South Jersey Backflow, keeping Millville’s restaurant and bakery compliant and protecting the public water supply!