Backflow Testing in Clayton, NC

Signs you need backflow help

• A letter from BSI arrived about 30 days ahead of your test date
• Water is running out of the irrigation assembly or its relief port
• You just added sprinklers to a lawn on Clayton water
• The device tested as a fail and needs work before a retest
• You're not sure whether your address is on Town of Clayton water or a Johnston County district

What's different about Clayton

The Town of Clayton runs a Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Program that requires devices to be tested annually by a certified tester. The homeowner or business owner is the one who hires a registered tester; the Town doesn't send its own crew. The tester then submits results through BSI Online, a third-party tracking service that mails a reminder roughly 30 days before each due date. Residential irrigation systems are part of the program, and the Town has an opt-out process for annual irrigation testing, so if you no longer use a sprinkler system, ask the Town what it takes to opt out properly.

Clayton buys all of its water from Johnston County Public Utilities and distributes it through two systems, one serving the Riverwood area and one serving the rest of town. Addresses outside town limits often fall in Johnston County water districts instead, and a Clayton mailing address doesn't guarantee you're a Town customer. Check your water bill: the utility listed there sets the backflow rules you follow.

Clayton says customer service lines on private property belong to the customer, and a backflow assembly on that line is the owner's to test, repair and replace. With about two-thirds of Clayton homes built since 2000, many irrigation devices here are original to the subdivision and now old enough to need new internal parts.

What affects the price

• Whether the visit is a routine test or includes a rebuild
• The type of assembly and its pipe size
• How many devices are on the property
• Repairs needed after freeze damage or debris in the checks
• A plumbing permit from Clayton Engineering and Inspections for a new or moved device

When you call

You'll reach an independent plumber who covers Clayton. Have your BSI notice handy if you got one, since it identifies the device and due date. Mention where the assembly is and whether it's leaking now. If it is, turning off the irrigation supply valve usually stops the flow until the plumber gets there.