Reducing Maintenance Costs for a School Water System

A side-by-side comparison of two valves, one with ArmorTek and one without ArmorTek. The coated valve is much cleaner than the one without.

What the Client Needed

Under local ordinance, each year backflow preventers for the drinking water system at Arroyo Seco Junior High School in Valencia, California, must be tested and repaired, as needed. Particularly low chlorine levels in part of the water system, along with damage from ordinary debris, have led to accelerated valve corrosion (microbiologically influenced corrosion or MIC). Such corrosion can complicate the repair process and drive up costs. In fact, a valve with significant corrosion often requires multiple rebuilds and, ultimately, replacement. Clarke Sales, which provides and services the valves, wanted to offer the school a cost-effective solution.

Solution

In 2019, Clarke Sales recommended the installation of a 4” Watts LF909 Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Preventer coated with ArmorTek™ as a test.

ArmorTek is an advanced primer coating containing an electrochemical corrosion inhibitor to significantly slow the spread of corrosion should the metal substrate become exposed from wear or impact from water system debris.

ArmorTek also uses a microbial inhibitor; it prohibits the growth of the bacteria that causes MIC, which can occur in water systems with low chlorine levels, like at Arroyo Seco Junior High. Prohibiting bacteria can further slow the spread of corrosion and the growth of tubercles that can clog or foul downstream equipment. ArmorTek’s top layer provides a high strength barrier between the iron substrate and water.

Results (ROI)

When the LF909 Reduced Pressure Backflow Preventer was opened for inspection after being in service for more than a year, the coating was clearly working. There was little to no corrosion and no evidence of MIC, which normally would have begun causing issues in the valve after only one year. Repair work on the valve, if required, will be accomplished in much less time. The ArmorTek coating is helping Arroyo Seco Junior High to extend the life of its backflow preventer. It is making cost-effective routine maintenance possible and dramatically reducing the need for valve replacements.
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Customer

Arroyo Seco Junior High School

Location

Valencia, CA

Industry

Education

Category

Backflow Preventers

Product(s) Installed:

Doug Tigert
Backflow Prevention
Clarke Sales
We installed the new powder coated valves for Watts a little over a year ago, and . . . the epoxy is holding up very well. This is a huge step in preserving these larger coated backflows, and it will help to make repairs a lot easier in years to come.