Spartanburg Water: backflow testing rules
Serves Spartanburg, SC. Every point below comes from Spartanburg Water's own pages, linked; check your notice for your own deadline.
Who must test
- Commercial, industrial and multi-dwelling customers must have an approved testable assembly installed based on the degree of hazard identified by CCC technicians; residential 3/4 to 1 inch services get a dual check installed by Spartanburg Water. Source.
- Certain commercial and industrial backflow assemblies must be tested annually by an SCDES certified tester. Source.
- All existing approved backflow assemblies, except low hazard residential lawn irrigation systems, must be tested annually. Source.
Notices and deadlines
- Customers get a Tier 1 notification letter 30 days before the test is due; the due date is the last day of the month. Source.
- If no report arrives within 14 days after the due date a Tier 2 letter gives 14 more calendar days, then a final Tier 3 letter follows. Source.
How the report is filed
- The tester must send the test report to Spartanburg Water within 7 days of the actual test date, using the SWS Backflow Assembly Field Test Report. Source.
- A failed test report goes to Spartanburg Water the same day, and failing assemblies must be repaired or replaced, retested and reported within 10 business days. Source.
Approved testers
- The program page's Backflow Prevention Testers link points to the SCDES general tester list, not a utility list. PDF, not downloaded). Source.
If a test is missed
- For non-compliant customers Spartanburg Water hires a tester and bills all costs plus a $50 administrative fee to the water bill. Source.
- Water service may be terminated for customers who do not comply, after written notice that service ends within 10 days. Source.
Program
- Spartanburg Water began its Cross Connection Control/Backflow Program in the early 1980s. Source.
Read October 6, 2026. Program page: spartanburgwater.org.