New Jersey: State rules

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Supply and Geoscience, runs physical-connection permits for facilities that contain both an unapproved water supply and a public community water supply. The Department’s tester page says permits are not required for private residences. A permit is renewed annually, and each backflow prevention device covered by the permit is tested quarterly by a certified tester. The page lists certifying agencies approved in the New Jersey Safe Drinking Water Act rules at N.J.A.C. 7:10-10.8. The list includes the New England Water Works Association, the American Society of Sanitary Engineering, and three named training organizations. The current tester list is obtained from those agencies.

Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

DEP’s overview of physical-connection permitting says N.J.S.A. 58:11-9 and following require annual permit renewal and that the Department be satisfied the devices have been tested every three months. Certified testers submit quarterly results online. The tester enters a license number, the certifying agency, and a certification PIN. The FAQ says an expired license cannot be used to certify results starting six months after expiration. A New England Water Works license number is entered as seven digits. If the system does not recognize the license, the tester sends a copy of the valid license to the physical-connection mailbox.

The quarterly instructions say the certified tester who tested the devices must be the person who enters the results. Office staff may not enter them, because the tester’s license could be affected. Results can be entered before the end of the quarter and do not all have to be entered at once. The Department’s tester page says the certifying agencies submit their tester lists electronically at least once a year so the quarterly system can check licenses. That is why a customer should ask which approved agency issued the certificate and should expect the tester, not a clerk, to file the state result.

Private residences are outside the physical-connection permit described on the page. A homeowner with only a utility-required assembly should ask the water supplier what local rule applies. The physical-connection program is aimed at facilities with an unapproved supply alongside a public community supply. The pages used here name ASSE and New England Water Works as approved certifying agencies. Devices on a permit are tested every three months. They do not state a single test price.

Official resources in New Jersey

DEP certified backflow testers

Lists certifying agencies approved under N.J.A.C. 7:10-10.8.

Physical connection permitting overview

Explains annual renewal and quarterly testing by a certified tester.

E-permitting FAQ

Explains rejected license numbers and the six-month limit after expiration.

Key facts for New Jersey

Physical-connection permits are not required for private residences.
Each device covered by a permit is tested quarterly by a certified tester.
Permits are renewed annually.
Approved certifying agencies on the DEP page include New England Water Works Association and ASSE.
The tester who performed the test must enter the quarterly results.
An expired license is rejected for certifying results six months after expiration.

What to do next

Ask which DEP-approved certifying agency issued the tester’s license.
If this is a house with no unapproved supply, ask the water supplier; the permit page excludes private residences.
Expect quarterly tests, not only an annual visit, when a physical-connection permit applies.
Ask the tester to file the result personally.

Looking for your city or county in New Jersey?

We haven't found official program-level pages for New Jersey we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:

General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across New Jersey, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.
NJDEP certified backflow prevention device testers
Website →
Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.
Your city or county office: Local governments →
Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the New Jersey page on USA.gov can point you to the right office.
Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.

Helpful guides

Backflow tester planner →

Do you serve New Jersey? Get a featured listing for $30/month, clearly labeled as a paid placement.