Backflow testing in St. Louis

Who has to test in St. Louis

The rule depends on the utility that sends your water bill. Each line below is from that utility's own page.

• Missouri American Water: From the January 2015 Cross Connection Control Program regulations.
• City of St. Charles Water: Page speaks generally of home and business devices; no customer-type breakdown.
• City of O'Fallon Utility Services: Devices are required on all irrigation systems, fire sprinkler systems and commercial service lines.
• Public Water Supply District 1 of Jefferson County: Required on lawn irrigation systems; some residential and commercial uses by type of business.
• Public Water Supply District No. 2 of St. Charles County: All lawn irrigation systems, fire sprinkler systems and commercial service lines must have a backflow device tested annually by a State of Missouri certified tester.
• City of St. Peters: An approved RPZ device must be installed on all lawn irrigation and sprinkler systems and on fire systems with chemical additives; an RPZ or double check is required on other fire protection systems.
• City of Wentzville Water Division: All lawn irrigation systems, fire sprinkler systems and commercial service lines must have a backflow prevention device tested annually by a state of Missouri certified tester.

Sources: Missouri American Water; City of St. Charles Water; City of O'Fallon Utility Services; Public Water Supply District 1 of Jefferson County; Public Water Supply District No. 2 of St. Charles County; City of St. Peters; City of Wentzville Water Division

How each utility takes the test report

Most utilities here take the report online through a vendor portal; the tester files it. Open a utility for its own deadline, filing steps and fees.

What testing costs in St. Louis

These are amounts the utility or a company published on its own page, shown as published, never averaged.

• City of St. Charles Water: Fee is charged by BSI to testing companies.
• City of O'Fallon Utility Services: Charged if the report is not received by June 1.
• Public Water Supply District No. 2 of St. Charles County: Reports received after June 30 are charged a $30 late fee; reports not received by July 30 get an additional $30 fee.
• City of St. Peters: A $30 late fee per device is charged to the water bill for any test report not received by June 1.
• City of Wentzville Water Division: Wentzville charges a water backflow filing fee on the customer's water account: $14 if received before June 1, $18 from June 5 through July 1, and $38 after July 5. The receipt date, not the test date, sets the fee.
• City of Wentzville Water Division: All irrigation systems must get a permit before installation, and a backflow permit registration is mandatory.
• St. Charles Irrigation LLC, St. Charles: St. Charles Irrigation backflow preventer test price, $80 (date not shown (footer copyright 2020)).
• St. Charles Irrigation LLC, St. Charles: St. Charles Irrigation repair labor rate, $100/hour (date not shown (footer copyright 2020)).
• West County Landscaping, Valley Park: West County Landscaping backflow device test price, $99 (date not shown).

Sources: City of St. Charles Water; City of O'Fallon Utility Services; Public Water Supply District No. 2 of St. Charles County; City of St. Peters; City of Wentzville Water Division; City of Wentzville Water Division; St. Charles Irrigation LLC, St. Charles; St. Charles Irrigation LLC, St. Charles; West County Landscaping, Valley Park

If the test is missed

• Public Water Supply District No. 2 of St. Charles County: Reports not received by July 30 are scheduled for disconnection, and service is not restored until the problem is corrected.
• City of St. Peters: Service is disconnected if a test report is not received within 60 days of the June 1 date, until reports are received and fees paid; test failures must be corrected within 10 working days.
• City of Wentzville Water Division: Reports received after July 5 are charged a $38 late filing fee; each report is stamped with the date received.

Sources: Public Water Supply District No. 2 of St. Charles County; City of St. Peters; City of Wentzville Water Division

Missouri rules behind the local programs

State rules set the minimum; the utilities above add their own deadlines and tester registration.

• State rule requires annual testing of reduced pressure principle (RPZ) assemblies by a certified tester, by a date no later than 30 days past the supplier's anniversary date.
• State rule requires annual testing of double check valve assemblies by a certified tester, by a date no later than 30 days past the supplier's anniversary date.
• Air gaps must be inspected each year, no later than 30 days past the anniversary date set by the supplier.

Sources: Missouri rule; Missouri rule; Missouri rule