The purpose of any backflow inspection is to determine whether or not whatever you’re inspecting is currently meeting an industry standard or meeting a minimum requirement set forth by a governing body.

The drinking water industry is no different; there are standards that are set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States and therefore required of the states to meet these set minimum standards. These minimum drinking water standards were established to promote the health of a nation through a series of environmental regulations designed to ensure a safe and clean water supply.

The inspection process for Backflow Prevention Assemblies falls under the purview of the local water authority from whom you receive your water from. The local water authority must comply with its state Safe Drinking Water Act. The program in most states is called Cross Connection Control Programs. 

Local Cross Connection Control Programs are the compliance portion to which the state looks to see if that particular water authority is in compliance through what’s commonly referred to as a Sanitary Survey.

Backflow prevention assemblies are mechanical assemblies that are engineered and designed to only allow the flow of water to go only in one direction with a redundant protection factor built in as well. In South Carolina, there are three acceptable types of backflow prevention assemblies, the Double Check Valve Assembly, the Reduced Pressure Zone Assembly, and the Pressure Vacuum Breaker. 

Each of these assemblies is designed to protect the public water supply from contamination from the reverse flow of water known as back siphonage or back pressure. The degree of hazard posed by any given facility dictates which backflow prevention assembly is appropriate. This determination is made by a licensed and qualified person usually from within the water authorities’ employment or another licensed and qualified person from another entity. This would usually be an engineering firm or a specialty company such as Carolina Backflow Specialties, Inc.

In South Carolina, public water systems require an annual inspection of the backflow prevention assembly and the inspection results be submitted to the water authority of record for the specific location.

Carolina Backflow is South Carolina’s trusted expert on all matters relating to backflow inspections. We provide our services through our highly trained and educated staff of field technicians backed up by some of the best office professionals in the industry. When you call Carolina Backflow, we don’t expect you to be greeted by an automated system, you will be greeted by one of our office professionals with courtesy and respect.

Here at Carolina Backflow, we deliver on-time inspection services along with a turnkey experience that is second to none in this industry. We have built our reputation one customer at a time in every part of South Carolina, and we look forward to welcoming you aboard as yet another satisfied customer.