Home - BairCo Backflow Preventer Testing, Florence, SC

How much does it cost to ensure we have quality, clean drinking water?

Just a mention of the words DHEC or OSHA sends tension across most corporations. These organizations are responsible for environmental safety as well as safety in the work place through strict regulations. The mere thought of fines and penalties are gut wrenching. As a result, many industries have hired people whose sole responsibility is to deal with these issues. DHEC requires these commercial/industrial settings to protect the public drinking water by installing Backflow Prevention devices (BFP’s) between their facilities and the city/county water supply. These devices stop the flow of water from being reversed, by using check valves with washers and springs or with relief valves that will dump the water out instead of allowing it to go past. These industries utilize the water not only for drinking, but for applications from cooling machinery to protecting fire lines with anti-freeze.

DHEC requires these devices (BFP’s) to be tested annually because they could fail. This failure can be caused by a number of reasons, but it’s usually due to debris in the device like rocks, sand, rust, ect. This debris causes damage to internal washers and will not allow them to rest on the seats. Another, less complex reason is spring fatigue from normal operation. The springs open and close with the flow of water. Most of the BFP’s are located in the ground and often become deteriorated due to moisture content in the soil, so they usually need minor repairs (replace handles and test cocks etc.) every couple of years. This can greatly prolong the life of the BFP because it can’t be tested without the handles, and if they rust off or break the BFP could need to be replaced.

The recertification tests cost between $50.00 and $150.00 per test depending on the application and quantity. An estimate can usually be given over the phone. Rare occasions would require a brief inspection at no charge. The actual test usually takes about 10-15 minutes and would require the water to be turned off for that amount of time. The test would determine whether the BFP would need repairs. The repairs would be based on the cost of the part and labor. If repairs were made, the BFP would need to be re-tested to make sure the device was in compliance with DHEC’s minimum requirements.

There are numerous recorded incidents that happen annually of water systems being contaminated because of either no protection or the wrong protection. This contamination can cause sickness and even death. That’s why DHEC mandates the frequent testing...not to make the companies have to pay someone to come out and test them, but simply to protect the community. The fines for not complying can be stiff, but the cost of contamination can be enormous, especially if the contamination causes illness or death. So I ask you again, how much does it cost to ensure we have quality, clean drinking water?