Have an Irrigation System? It May Be Time for an Inspection
Do you have a residential irrigation system installed in your yard? You know, one of those “set it and forget it” systems that keeps the lawn watered – even when you’re not around to drag the garden hose out and do it yourself… yep, that’s the one!
What you might not know, especially if purchased a home with an irrigation system already installed (lucky you!), is that it likely has a separate water meter with a back-flow assembly that was permitted at some point through the municipality in which your home is located.
You Mentioned “Inspection”?
Yup. Sure did – thus, the reason for this post! Here’s the little-known real estate secret: certain towns/cities require re-inspection of those back flow valves to make sure there are no leaks or cross-contamination happening with the municipality water.
It may sound like an extra hassle but with the intent of keeping your town’s water from possible cross-contamination, it’s a small price to pay.
I Have an Irrigation System – Now What?
The next step is to determine if your local government requires regularly-scheduled inspections for cross-connection programs. Each town provides a list of certified testers and costs typically range from $100 to $120, which includes filing required paperwork with your town.
Here’s a quick list, current as of the time of publication (November 2017), that we hope you find helpful:
City of Raleigh & Town of Garner
Inspection Required Every Three Years: Has to be inspected by a certified tester
(For questions, contact the City of Raleigh at 919-996-2747.)
Town of Apex
Annual Inspection Required: Managed by an outside vendor
Town of Cary & Town of Morrisville
Annual Inspection Required: Approved inspectors listed on town site
Town of Holly Springs
Inspection Required Every Two Years: Approved inspectors listed on town site
Town of Fuquay
No inspection required outside of original permit. For more information, visit http://www.fuquay-varina.org/283/Public-Utilities.
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