Day in the Life: Khenn, Backflow Technician

From the Office to the Field: Khenn’s Role of Protecting Wellington’s Water

As LB White’s dedicated Backflow Technician, Khenn is now the one ensuring buildings stay compliant, water stays safe, and property owners avoid serious liability.

We caught up with Khenn to talk backflow, building compliance, and why this role matters more than most people realise.

So Khenn, what’s changed since we last spoke?

“Big shift,” he says.
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I’ve moved fully into backflow testing.”

“It’s been a great change. More autonomy. More flexibility. More responsibility.”

Some days start at 7:30am and wrap by late morning. Other weeks he’s testing 8–10 sites, depending on the number of devices per property.

“Some buildings have one device. Others have 50 or more. Next week alone I’ve got sites with 55, 69, and 59 devices. That’s over 180 tests in one week.”

It scales quickly.

For people who don’t know, what is backflow?

“Backflow is what stops contaminated water from flowing back into the public supply.”

If there’s a sudden drop in mains pressure, water inside a building can reverse direction. If that building uses chemicals, fuel, cleaning agents, or specialised systems like breweries or medical facilities, contaminated water could be drawn back into the city supply.

“That’s what we prevent. We test and certify backflow prevention devices to make sure they’re doing their job.”

It’s something most people never think about, until it fails.

Is it really that serious?

“Yes. Absolutely.”

If a device isn’t maintained and contamination occurs, investigations trace it back to the source. If it’s your building, you’re liable.

That can mean significant fines and serious legal consequences.

“So when someone asks, ‘Do I really need this tested?’ the answer is yes. It’s part of your building’s compliance. Compared to the risk, it’s a no-brainer.”

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What’s the day-to-day like?

“It’s technical, but it’s also people-focused.”

Khenn works with building owners, property managers, and tenants. Some just want it handled. Others need clear explanations about compliance requirements and risk.

“You’ve got to be professional. Calm. Confident. You’re there to protect public health, and their liability.”

"I do spend time in the office arranging the testing, writing the certification, their is quite a bit of admin to do in the background."

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What Makes LB White Different?

Here’s where LB White stands apart.

Many backflow testers can identify a failed device.

But not all of them can fix it.

LB White can.

Because LB White isn’t just a testing company, we’re licensed plumbers as well.

That means if a backflow device fails:

• There’s no second contractor.
• No delay waiting for a repair firm.
• No back-and-forth between companies.
• No finger-pointing.

Testing and repairs are handled by the same trusted team.

That’s a major advantage for property managers and building owners. One company. One point of contact. One clear line of responsibility.

It saves time. It reduces disruption. And it removes risk.

In compliance work, that matters.

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How are you finding the change personally?

“It’s been really good.”

Less desk time. More movement. More independence.

“I’ve got more control over my schedule now. That’s been huge for work-life balance.”

And there’s pride in the role.

“You don’t always see the impact directly, but what we’re doing protects the wider community. That feels good.”