Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department Backflow Rules

Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department at a glance

When the test is due: A county employee performs the first test at installation; after that a licensed contractor must test the assembly every year and after any repair or replacement. Source.
How the report is filed: The customer's contractor tests the assembly and makes sure a Test and Maintenance Report reaches the Environmental Health and Safety team at PBCWUD. Source.
Fee: The county performs the initial certification test when service is activated and bills $40.00 per assembly, plus $40.00 for each retest. Source.
If a test is missed: If an assembly is still out of compliance 60 days after the due date, the customer is warned that water service may be interrupted. Source.
Approved testers: No tester list on the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department pages read here. Ask a Florida certified tester whether Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department has them on file.

The county sends a letter when the annual test is due; customers who have not complied get a follow up notice after 30 days and, after 60 days, a notice that water service may be interrupted. Source.

The county recognizes only state or county licensed plumbing contractors whose employees are certified backflow prevention technicians; fire lines need a licensed fire protection contractor or NICET certified tester. Source.

Palm Beach County Water Utilities requires non residential and large meter customers to install and maintain testable backflow prevention assemblies. Source.

From notice to filed report, the steps are the same everywhere: how a backflow test goes.

Read October 7, 2026. Program page: discover.pbc.gov.