Backflow Laws: South Carolina
South Carolina Backflow Prevention Laws, Regulations, and Compliance Requirements
South Carolina operates one of the most self-contained state-administered backflow tester certification programs in the nation. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES, formerly DHEC) certifies all backflow assembly testers through its own rigorous 4-day program — and there is currently no direct reciprocity with any other state or national certification program. All testers in South Carolina must be SCDES-certified. Commercial assemblies require annual testing; residential assemblies require testing every 2 years at some utilities. SCDES also maintains its own approved assembly list. This guide covers SCDES's program and major utilities including Spartanburg Water, Grand Strand Water, Columbia Waterworks, and others.
South Carolina State Regulatory Framework
South Carolina’s backflow prevention requirements are established under the State Safe Drinking Water Act, specifically Regulations R.44-55-20(6) and R.44-55-40(6), and the State Primary Drinking Water Regulations Section R.61-58.7(F), administered by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES). SCDES holds EPA primacy under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Every public water system in South Carolina must initiate and maintain a viable cross-connection control program, accomplished by surveying the distribution system for unprotected cross-connections and controlling them through proper backflow prevention assemblies.
Key SCDES requirements: the public water system must maintain accurate records of all backflow prevention assembly locations, types, sizes, and annual testing results; all testing must be done by a state-certified backflow prevention tester; all assemblies must be on SCDES’s List of Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies for South Carolina (a separate state-maintained list distinct from USC-FCCCHR). SCDES’s own General Inspector provides backflow assembly testing services to the general public — a unique service offering among state agencies nationally.
SCDES Tester Certification — No Reciprocity
South Carolina’s backflow tester certification program is among the most self-contained in the nation. SCDES must be the certifying agency for all testers operating in South Carolina. There is currently no direct reciprocity with any training providers from other states or national certifying bodies (ABPA, ASSE, AWWA). Testers holding out-of-state certifications who request reciprocity must attend and pass a SCDES-sponsored one-day event with both a written examination and a practical examination.
New certification: 4-day course at SCDES standard; written exam and wet lab (practical) exam both required. Certification valid for 3 years. The wet lab exam requires successful testing of a double check valve assembly, pressure vacuum breaker, and a reduced pressure principle assembly. Recertification options: (1) visit an SCDES recertification center with the study guide exam; or (2) repeat the 4-day state-sponsored certification course. No reciprocity recertifications — all recertifying testers must use one of these two SCDES options.
SCDES Vertical Tube Test Procedure: SCDES has issued a policy letter stating the Vertical Tube Test Procedure is no longer allowed in South Carolina. Testers should confirm current SCDES-approved test procedures before performing any testing in South Carolina.
South Carolina's No-Reciprocity Policy Creates a Unique Compliance Burden
Unlike states that accept ABPA, ASSE, or AWWA credentials, South Carolina requires every backflow tester to be certified specifically by SCDES — with no direct reciprocity. A contractor holding ABPA certification who tests in neighboring Georgia (which accepts ABPA) cannot automatically test in South Carolina. This creates a meaningful compliance barrier: property owners seeking testers must confirm SCDES certification specifically, and contractors expanding into South Carolina markets must go through SCDES’s certification process regardless of their credentials in other states.
Major Water Purveyors in South Carolina
Spartanburg Water System (SWS)
Spartanburg Water System is one of South Carolina’s oldest and largest utilities, serving Spartanburg County and surrounding areas. SWS has operated a Cross Connection Control/Backflow Prevention Program since the early 1980s. All commercial and industrial backflow assemblies must be tested annually by SCDES-certified testers. SWS’s Backflow Assembly Field Test Report form must be completed and submitted to SWS. Program Coordinator Matthew Jamison can be reached at (864) 598-7213 or ccc@spartanburgwater.org.
Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority (GSWSA)
GSWSA serves the Myrtle Beach area and surrounding Grand Strand region — one of South Carolina’s largest coastal water utilities. GSWSA offers its own backflow prevention certification workshop (3-day course) for testers. GSWSA’s certification workshop meets SCDES standards. Recertification requires a 25-question written exam and practical testing of DCVA, PVB, and RPZ assemblies, with differential gauge accuracy within 2% of full scale or +/- 0.03 psi differential.
Columbia Waterworks
Columbia Waterworks serves the state capital and surrounding Richland County communities. Annual testing by SCDES-certified testers is required. Columbia Waterworks’ cross-connection control program follows SCDES R.61-58.7(F) requirements.
Charleston Water System
Charleston Water System serves Charleston and surrounding coastal communities. Annual testing by SCDES-certified testers is required. The combination of commercial development, hospitality industry, and medical facilities in the Charleston area creates a substantial cross-connection compliance environment.
Lowcountry Regional Water System (LRWS)
LRWS serves multiple Lowcountry communities. LRWS’s cross-connection control program requires annual testing. If a cross-connection is identified that poses an immediate hazard to public health, the service will be disconnected until proper protection is installed and tested.
Smaller Utilities — SWWC, West Columbia, and Others
South Carolina Water Works Company (SWWC) and various smaller South Carolina utilities operate cross-connection programs aligned with SCDES requirements. Some utilities (including SWWC) distinguish between commercial testing (annual) and residential testing (every 2 years). Confirm your specific utility’s residential testing frequency.
South Carolina's Approved Assembly List Is State-Maintained — Not USC-FCCCHR
Unlike most U.S. states that reference the USC-FCCCHR approved assembly list as their standard, South Carolina maintains its own SCDES List of Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies for South Carolina. Not every assembly on the USC-FCCCHR list is on the SCDES list, and vice versa. Before purchasing a replacement or new assembly for installation in South Carolina, confirm the specific make, model, size, and orientation are on the current SCDES approved list — not just the USC-FCCCHR list.
Property Owner Compliance Summary for South Carolina
SCDES-certified tester: All testing must be by SCDES-certified testers. No reciprocity with other state or national credentials. Verify SCDES certification before scheduling.
SCDES-approved assemblies: All assemblies must be on SCDES’s approved list, not just USC-FCCCHR.
Commercial: Annual testing required.
Residential: Testing frequency varies — annual at some utilities, every 2 years at others. Confirm with your utility.
No vertical tube test: SCDES no longer accepts vertical tube test procedure results.
Find a Certified Backflow Tester in South Carolina
Find SCDES-certified backflow assembly testers at getyourbackflowtested.com/backflow-testing-near-me/south-carolina-backflow-testing — covering Columbia, Charleston, Spartanburg, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and all South Carolina communities.
South Carolina Regulatory Reference Links
| Resource / Agency | URL / Link Target |
|---|---|
SCDES — Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention | |
SCDES — Certified Testers List (Updated 03/2026) | |
SCDES — Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies for SC | |
SC Primary Drinking Water Regulations R.61-58.7(F) | |
Spartanburg Water — Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention | |
Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority — Backflow Prevention |
Related Resources
getyourbackflowtested.com | Backflow Laws — South Carolina Backflow Compliance Guide