The Importance Of Backflow Device Installation & Inspection
If your New Jersey home has an irrigation system, you probably already know how important it is to have winterization and springtime startup done, but there may be other less obvious components of sprinkler care you have overlooked. More specifically, responsibilities related to installing and maintaining a backflow prevention device.
What is a backflow preventer?
As its name suggests, a backflow prevention device prevents backflow. These devices have been a required element of any commercial or residential New Jersey irrigation system for decades following passage of the EPA’s 1973 Safe Drinking Water Act.
The backflow prevention device is installed at the valve where your irrigation water lines diverge from your main water line and guarantees that the water in your lines always flows in the correct direction. Much like the valves in your heart prevent blood from flowing backward between beats, the backflow preventer keeps irrigation water from flowing backwards into your drinking water.
- There are three major types of backflow preventers used here in New Jersey:
- Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB)
- Reduced Pressure Zone Assembly (RPZ)
- Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA)
Why do you need a backflow prevention device?
The water in your irrigation lines contains chemicals like fertilizer and pesticide, and these chemicals can contaminate your drinking water if flow reverses for any reason—usually from changes in water pressure or damage to the irrigation line. A contamination from backflow can pose a serious health risk, leading to serious illness or, in extreme cases, death. Installing a backflow preventer guarantees that when a flow reversal occurs your drinking water won't be affected.
How often should your backflow preventer be inspected?
New Jersey codes require a backflow inspection be done by a qualified professional like All Wet at least once a year. This ensures that your backflow prevention device is working correctly as it keeps your irrigation water out of your drinking water.
All Wet Irrigation & Lighting is here to keep your irrigation system backflow-free and your family safe from the health risks associated with backflow. If you have an annual service contract, we’ll take care of your backflow inspection as part of your regular service, or you can call us at (973) 366-8754 to schedule an inspection now.