Target Department Store in St. Petersburg, FL, maintains a large retention pond that drains through three concrete drainage pipes into Tampa Bay. During times of high tide and heavy rainfall, saltwater from Tampa Bay would reverse flow into the pond, killing fresh-water vegetation.

Target Building Services worked with design engineers to find a cost-effective solution. The user knew that a check valve was needed to prevent the backflow of saltwater without impeding drainage. After considering several alternatives, including flapper-style check valves, Target opted to install three 36-inch Tideflex® TF-1 Check Valves.

Tideflex® Check Valves open and drain with as little as one inch of forward hydraulic pressure, so headloss is kept to a minimum. Rising water from the receiving body exerts pressure on the valve's pat