Backflow Testing in Raleigh, NC

Who has to test in Raleigh

Raleigh Water runs a Cross Connection Control Program to keep water from private plumbing from flowing back into the public mains. The program sorts properties by risk:

• Typical homes: a non-testable dual check device sits in the meter box. No scheduled testing is required.
• Homes with in-ground irrigation: the irrigation assembly must be tested every three years by July 1.
• Commercial irrigation: tested every year by July 1.
• Domestic and fire service assemblies: tested at installation, whenever replaced, and once a year after that.

The tests must be done by a City of Raleigh Certified Tester, and results are filed electronically through the City's VEPO portal.

What missing a deadline costs

The City treats this as a firm requirement. If a metered irrigation system isn't tested on schedule, the City can disconnect it and charge a $50 fee to restore service. Irrigation that branches off the home's domestic line instead of a separate meter gets a $100 non-testing fee. Keeping a note of your due year saves a scramble in late June.

Inside a backflow test

The tester attaches a differential pressure gauge to the test cocks on the assembly, closes the shutoff valves in sequence, and confirms that each check valve holds tight and, on a reduced pressure assembly, that the relief valve opens when it should. The whole job usually means a short water interruption. A passing result gets filed with the City. A failing one usually points to worn rubber parts, debris on a check seat or a cracked body, and the assembly has to be repaired or replaced and retested.

Merger towns

Raleigh Water also serves Garner, Knightdale, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon, so properties in those towns on Raleigh Water fall under the same cross-connection program.

Freeze protection

Irrigation assemblies usually sit outdoors and above ground, which leaves them exposed in a cold snap. Shutting the supply and draining the assembly in late fall, or keeping it under an insulated cover, prevents cracked bodies and failed tests the following year.

Cost factors

The price of a test depends on the assembly type and size, how many assemblies the property has, how easy they are to reach, and whether repair kits or a replacement are needed after a failure. Ask whether filing the report with the City is part of the fee.