Today, South Jersey Backflow was in Toms River, NJ, conducting an annual backflow preventer inspection at a multi-tenant office building complex located near the town center. The backflow preventer in question is crucial to ensuring that none of the commercial tenants’ plumbing systems backflow into the public water supply, especially considering the variety of businesses, including medical offices and tech startups, that rely on the shared water system.

The backflow preventer installed was a Apollo 4A-4000 Reduced Pressure Zone Assembly (RPZ), chosen for its ability to handle the potential high pressures involved in this complex’s plumbing system.

Initial Inspection and Testing

The Apollo 4A-4000 RPZ is located in an easily accessible mechanical room. Our visual inspection showed:

• No leaks or signs of corrosion.
• Small amount of sediment at the relief valve opening, typical for systems with variable water pressure.
• Shutoff valves functioning properly, though the main valve was slightly sticky when first engaged.

We proceeded with a full backflow preventer test:

1. Check Valve #1 – Passed, holding at 3.1 PSI.
2. Check Valve #2 – Passed, maintaining 2.8 PSI.
3. Relief Valve – Passed, opening at 2.3 PSI.

Preventive Maintenance

Since the backflow preventer was functioning properly, we carried out the following routine maintenance to keep the system running smoothly:

• Flushed the relief valve to remove the accumulated sediment.
• Cleaned the check valve seats to prevent wear and ensure proper function.
• Lubricated shutoff valves to help prevent future stiffness or difficulty when turning on/off.

Final Steps and Certification

Once we confirmed the system was operating properly, we:

• Filed the compliance report with the Toms River Water Department.
• Provided the results to the building’s property management team.
• Scheduled the next annual test to ensure continued compliance with local regulations.

Final Recommendations

Before leaving, we advised the property management team to:

1. Inspect the backflow preventer at least once per quarter to ensure it remains free of debris, especially as the building experiences varying water demand.
2. Perform water pressure checks regularly to detect any pressure surges that could affect the backflow preventer.
3. Keep the mechanical room dry and ensure that it’s well-ventilated, reducing the potential for moisture to damage components over time.

Another successful job by South Jersey Backflow, helping Toms River’s commercial office building stay compliant and ensure the protection of the municipal water supply!