Today, South Jersey Backflow was in Woodbridge, NJ, servicing the backflow preventer for a public school with an irrigation system that keeps the school’s landscaping green and thriving. The system is crucial for maintaining the school grounds throughout the year, especially for the sports fields, playgrounds, and gardens. It is important to ensure that the backflow preventer works efficiently to protect the public water supply from any cross-contamination with irrigation water. The school’s Apollo 70-100 RPZ assembly is a reliable model designed for smaller municipal applications, like the one found at this local school.

Initial Inspection and Testing

The Apollo 70-100 RPZ was located in a utility room within the school’s maintenance building. During our visual inspection, we observed:

• No visible cracks or leaks in the assembly.
• Minor rust around the shutoff valve, likely due to exposure to moisture from the irrigation system.
• Light mineral buildup on the relief valve, common for systems that rely on treated water for landscaping.

We proceeded with the full backflow preventer test:

1. Check Valve #1 – Passed, holding at 4.6 PSI.
2. Check Valve #2 – Passed, maintaining 4.5 PSI.
3. Relief Valve – Passed, opening at 3.0 PSI.

Preventive Maintenance

Since the system passed all tests, we continued with routine maintenance:

• Flushed the relief valve to clear out any mineral deposits from the treated irrigation water.
• Cleaned the check valve seats to ensure proper sealing and to avoid any future leaks.
• Lubricated the shutoff valve stems to prevent rust and ensure smooth operation.

Final Steps and Certification

After completing the inspection and maintenance, we:

• Filed the compliance report with the Woodbridge Water Department.
• Provided the school district’s facilities manager with the completed test results and a summary of services performed.
• Scheduled the next annual inspection to ensure the continued protection of the public water supply.

Final Recommendations

Before leaving, we advised the facilities manager to:

1. Inspect the backflow preventer regularly, particularly before the irrigation system is used heavily during the warmer months.
2. Monitor the quality of water in the irrigation system to prevent mineral buildup, which could affect the backflow preventer’s performance.
3. Keep the utility area clean to ensure there are no obstructions that could interfere with the operation of the backflow preventer.

Another successful service by South Jersey Backflow, keeping Woodbridge’s public school safe and compliant with water safety standards!