| Quick facts | Answer |
|---|---|
| Cost range | $29.99 to $100 per assembly |
| Time | Testing is required annually for each irrigation assembly |
| Who's qualified | A tester holding a South Carolina DES backflow prevention assembly tester certification card |
Mount Pleasant, SC: what's different here
Mount Pleasant is in Charleston County and is served by Mount Pleasant Waterworks, which sets its own backflow rules for irrigation systems. The town sits in the Charleston metropolitan coastal plain, where irrigation backflow testing is often driven by annual watering-system compliance rather than a one-time installation test. That means most Mount Pleasant homeowners schedule a test every year, not just once.
Why does Mount Pleasant require irrigation backflow testing every year?
Mount Pleasant Waterworks requires backflow assemblies for all irrigation systems to be tested annually by a SCDHEC-certified backflow prevention tester. South Carolina Regulation R.61-58 also says each assembly must be tested after installation and then at least once a year. All testing and repairs are at the customer's expense.
What device does my irrigation system need in Mount Pleasant?
For low-hazard residential lawn sprinkler systems, South Carolina identifies a residential dual check as the minimum acceptable device. However, Mount Pleasant Waterworks' policy says irrigation systems require reduced pressure principle backflow preventers, which are considered high-hazard protection. Ask the pro which device your system has.
Who can legally test backflow in Charleston and Mount Pleasant?
South Carolina requires all backflow testing to be done by a state-certified backflow prevention tester. A certified tester holds an up-to-date backflow prevention assembly tester certification card issued by the Department. The certification is valid for 3 years, so ask the pro to show a current card.
How do testers get certified in South Carolina?
South Carolina's tester certification course is a 4-day course with written and hands-on testing. A utility backflow class brochure lists a $140 course cost for backflow/cross-connection training materials. The recertification fee is capped at $50 under Regulation R.61-58.
What equipment does the tester use on my irrigation backflow preventer?
South Carolina DES says the tester's differential gauge must be accurate to within 2% of full gauge scale or +/- 0.3 psi differential. This gauge measures the pressure difference across the assembly's check valves. Ask the pro to confirm their gauge is calibrated before the test.
What to do next
- Confirm your irrigation system's backflow device - Mount Pleasant Waterworks' policy calls for reduced pressure principle backflow preventers on irrigation systems.
- Ask the pro for proof of a current South Carolina DES backflow prevention assembly tester certification card, valid for 3 years.
- Request a quote that states the price per assembly - the typical Mount Pleasant range is $29.99 to $100.
- Schedule the test before your watering season starts, since Mount Pleasant Waterworks requires annual testing at the customer's expense.
- Call (843) 286-4721 or email [email protected] for a free quote from a licensed, insured local backflow tester.
CHS Backflow is a free referral service: an independent contractor does the work and may pay us a referral fee. You never pay us anything.
