Sewage backflow is a major problem in many urban areas. When sewage drains back up or are overburdened, they can cause flooding and pollution.
This can lead to serious damage to property and health concerns in many areas. The best way to protect your home or business is to have a sewer backflow preventer installed on your sanitary line.
There are many types of sewer check valves available, and they all operate in a similar way. Each has a float that is activated when the backflow condition occurs. If the float rises it starts to block the flow of water, and when it drops, it closes against a gasket or gate, sealing the line.
Floats also help to make these valves easier to maintain by not allowing modern trash to accumulate in the valve, thus preventing it from clogging. This makes them ideal for use in wastewater lift stations, sewage pumps, or other applications involving viscous liquids or slurries.
Storm Drain Check Valve
The city of Ann Arbor, MI needed to install a backflow preventer in a storm drain that was causing significant flooding on streets and neighboring properties during high tide. The solution they selected was the Tideflex CheckMate inline check valve.
These inline valves allow storm water to drain into the sewer system while preventing backflow from entering the city’s main sewer lines. They have an all-rubber construction that allows them to open and close with very little head pressure. They are also designed to be silent and easy to install with no mechanical parts to replace.
They are easy to maintain by replacing the rubber flap gate and cleaning it of debris on a regular basis, re-seating the float gate, and inspecting the condition of the seal. It is important that this be done at least once a year (if possible during early summer) to ensure proper operation of the valve.
Besides these simple maintenance procedures, the valves require routine cleaning of any dirt and debris that may have collected over time in the valve’s float rod and hole at the top. This maintenance is usually performed every few years, but if the city’s storm drain pipes are located in an area where debris and grime build-up is a concern, cleaning the valve can be completed more frequently.
The City of Charleston has been installing over 22 in-line check valves around town in an effort to manage tidal flooding. The city has already had tremendous success with this project and plans to continue this effort in the future.
In addition to preventing the backflow of seawater into the sewer lines, these in-line valves prevent other pollutants such as oil, grease and sediment from backing up into the storm drain check valve system. They are a great alternative to costly and time-consuming pumping of the wastewater to prevent sewer backups.
Before committing to a new sewer backwater preventer, it is recommended that you contact a local plumber for a site inspection and a detailed explanation of the installation process. During this inspection, your plumber will be able to make sure that the device is correctly positioned and that it will function properly.