Hi,

Got a letter from my town in NJ stating that we haven't had our backflow preventer tested.

Among the other BS it says "Tax records indicate that you are the owner of the referenced property which contains a testable backflow preventer or preventers."

It's a standard line of crap. It also says we have to provide a Cross Connection Control Device Performance Test certification from certified tester and pay the town $91 per device. It must be repeated annually.

Been here 20 years and this is the first time I've hard of this. We do not have a backflow device, just a pressure regulator.

Does anyone know what the most minimal backflow device is that I can install (3/4" copper supply) that will meet this requirement? We have no sprinkler system but two outdoor hose bibs. I believe the hot water boiler has a backflow device.

Also - sounds like an amazing racket and I want to get in on it. Does anyone know how I can become a certified tester?

Thank you!

Are they requesting a backflow device be installed or are their records incorrect that you have never had one?

[www.google.com]

If you've been there 20 years, and don't believer you have a backflow device, send a letter disputing their claims.

"Dear town, we do not have any such backflow device. We have no record of such a device being installed or required. Please provide the docmentation that makes you believe such a device exists and needs testing."

We just went through a massive permitting headache from April-November of 2025. The most effective technique was to play super ignorant and ask them to show you exactly what the rules were and exactly how to conform to the rules. Despite their original demands that we do tons of work to get our project approved, in the end all we had to do was move the site 10 feet and get some previously unpermitted work inspected.



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@Steve - we've never had one. They assume we do and demand testing.

@DaveMill - I really like that approach - thank you.



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