Residential Backflow Prevention Assembly Testing Program
To protect the Town's water system, the Town of Cary's Cross Connection Control Ordinance requires all single-family residential irrigation customers to have an approved backflow prevention assembly installed and tested annually.
To assist customers in completing the required testing, the Cary Town Council initiated a new program in 2008 that would provide customers the choice of allowing the Town to manage the annual process. The Town contracts with certified testers to perform testing and limited repair of the assembly.
All residential irrigation customers are automatically scheduled for testing. Cusomter who prefer to coordinate their own testing can "opt out" of the Town coordinated program and complete the rquired testing using an approved tester of their choice. The Town of Cary will mail a letter describing the backflow prevention assembly testing program to all residential irrigation customers in advance of the program. The letter will provide information about how the program is administered, what costs are associated with the program, and options available to the customer.
Town-coordinated testing
The Town of Cary has contracted with Infinity Fire Protection, LLC for the testing service. The testing begins in June and is usually completed by September. The testing staff from Infinity Fire Protection will be in uniform with visible identification. Each vehicle used by Infinity Fire Protection will have a "Town of Cary Contractor" magnetic placard affixed to the driver's side of the vehicle.
The testing process will require a brief, 15-minute interruption of water service and utilize less than one gallon of water. Once the backflow prevention test has been completed, the technician will leave a door hanger with your backflow prevention assembly test results. It is not required for you to be home during the testing.
The cost of the Town coordinated testing program is $50, which includes the testing fee and minor repairs and replacement parts if needed. The fee will appear on your utility bill following the completion of all testing in September.
To follow the progress of the Town's contractor, view the Cross Connection Control Map via Cary's Maps Online. The map indicates what areas where testing is in progress, where testing has been completed and the planned area that is to be tested.
View a list of certified testers.
Limits of testing
If an assembly is damaged beyond repair, the customer will be responsible for contacting a plumber to repair or reinstall the assembly, having it tested, and submitting the test result to the Town of Cary.
Customers will also be responsible for arranging their own testing if an assembly is located inside the crawl space of a building, under decks, inside a shed, or in a closed or restricted access or structure. Customers will need to opt out of of the Town coordinated program and complete the required testing using a Town of Cary approved tester of their choice.
Opting out of the program
Customers who do not want to participate in the program must inform the Town of their decision to opt out by May 17, 2010.
- On the Web: Use our online Opt Out form and submit your name, address, and contact information.
- By phone: Call (919) 469-4090 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to speak to a customer service representative.
- Via e-mail: Send opt-out requests to residentialcrossconnectionprogram@townofcary.org. A return response will be e-mailed notifying customers that the Town has successfully received the request.
Customers who choose to opt out of the program are still required to have their backflow prevention assembly test completed by August 31, 2010. Test reports must be mailed to:
Department of Public Works and Utilities
Attn: Cross Connection Control
400 James Jackson Ave.
Cary, NC 27513
Discontinuing irrigation service
Customers who would like to discontinue the use of an irrigation system have the option to remove separate irrigation meters at no cost. Contact Customer Accounting at (919) 469-4050 to have your irrigation meter removed.
- To restore service to an irrigation system with a split tap, a request must be made to install a new meter. Presently, the cost to install a ¾ inch connection irrigation meter is $50.
Customers who do not have a separate meter can contact a licensed plumber to disable and cap off the irrigation below grade. Capping off the irrigation line below grades requires a plumbing permit and inspection by a Town of Cary plumbing inspector. Contact the Inspections and Permits Department at (919) 469-4030 for more information on permitting requirements.
- Customers who choose to disable an irrigation system will be required to install a split irrigation tap to establish irrigation in the future.
Contact
For more information on back flow devices and the Town's cross connection control program, call the Public Works and Utilities Department at (919) 469-4090.
