Backflow Testing in Winston-Salem, NC

Why the utility tracks these devices

A cross-connection is any point where drinking water piping meets something that could contaminate it: an irrigation system, a boiler, a fire sprinkler line, or process equipment in a business. If pressure in the public main drops, water can be pulled backward from that equipment into the system. A backflow assembly is a set of check valves that blocks that reverse flow, and it only stays reliable if someone checks it on schedule.

How the Winston-Salem program is set up

1. Owner responsibility. The property owner must install, test and maintain an assembly on every cross-connection.
2. Permit to install. A new assembly requires a permit from the joint City-County Inspections Division and must be installed by a plumbing or utility contractor holding the required North Carolina credential.
3. Testing. Assemblies are tested when installed and, for most, every year after that by a tester the utility has approved.
4. Reporting. Test reports are filed through BSI Online, which mails a reminder letter about 30 days before a test is due.

The irrigation change

NC Senate Bill 166, effective September 2024, moved eligible residential irrigation systems that have no chemical feed to a three-year test cycle. If your system injects fertilizer or other chemicals, or the property is commercial, expect the annual schedule to continue. When the reminder letter arrives, it is worth confirming which cycle your assembly is on.

What happens during a test

The tester connects a gauge kit to the test cocks on the assembly, briefly shuts the downstream valve, and checks that each check valve holds and any relief valve opens at the right pressure. Water to that line is off for a short time. If the assembly passes, the report is submitted. If it fails, the usual causes are worn rubber parts, debris on a check seat or a stuck relief valve, and a repair kit often fixes it, followed by a retest.

Common reasons for a call

• A BSI Online reminder letter for an annual or three-year test
• An assembly that failed and needs parts and a retest
• A new irrigation system or a business build-out that needs an assembly installed
• A device damaged by freezing in an exposed spot outdoors

Cost factors

Price depends on the assembly type and size, how many devices are on the property, whether repairs or parts are needed, and how accessible the device is. Installing a new assembly also involves the permit and the piping work.