Indiana regulates backflow prevention through IDEM’s statewide cross-connection control rules and through individual water utility programs. Understanding these requirements helps you stay compliant, avoid water service interruption, and choose the right certified tester for your property.
The Legal Basis: IDEM and 327 IAC 8-3
Indiana’s backflow prevention requirements are rooted in 327 IAC 8-3 — the Indiana Administrative Code section governing cross-connection control. Under this rule, all Indiana water utilities that serve public water systems are required to:
- Maintain a written cross-connection control program
- Conduct periodic surveys to identify cross-connection hazards
- Require installation of appropriate backflow prevention assemblies at service connections with potential hazards
- Require annual testing of installed assemblies by certified testers
- Maintain records of test results
Individual utility programs operate under this statewide framework. This means your specific testing requirements — due dates, approved tester lists, report submission procedures — are set by your local water utility, not directly by IDEM. Contact your utility to get the specific rules that apply to your property.
Who Is Required to Test?
While specific requirements vary by utility, the following property types are typically required to have annual backflow testing in Indiana:
- Commercial and industrial properties — virtually all commercial water connections are subject to backflow testing requirements
- Irrigation systems — residential and commercial properties with in-ground irrigation systems almost universally require annual testing
- Fire sprinkler systems — fire line connections require annual backflow testing, typically with an RPZ or DCVA assembly
- Medical and dental offices — high-hazard connections due to chemical and biological hazards
- Restaurants and food service facilities — potential cross-connection with cleaning chemicals and food processing water
- Car washes — high-pressure recirculated water systems create significant cross-connection risk
- Multi-unit residential buildings — apartments, condominiums, and mixed-use buildings
- Properties with boilers or cooling towers — chemical treatment creates high-hazard cross-connection potential
- Swimming pools — fill connections and chemical systems require protection
Some residential properties with irrigation systems may also be required to test annually, depending on the type of assembly installed and your specific utility’s program. If you’re unsure whether your property is subject to testing requirements, contact your water utility directly.
Tester Certification Requirements
Indiana requires that backflow testing be performed by a state-certified tester. Acceptable certifications include:
- ASSE 5110 — Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester (most widely held and accepted)
- ASSE 5120 — Backflow Prevention Assembly Repair Technician (also authorized to test)
- Equivalent certifications from programs recognized by your specific utility
Most Indiana utilities maintain their own approved tester lists and require that tests be performed only by testers on that list. A test performed by a tester who is not on your utility’s approved list may not be accepted — requiring you to retest at your own expense. Always verify that your chosen tester is on your utility’s approved list before scheduling.
Testing Frequency
The standard testing frequency for Indiana is once per year. Your utility sets the specific annual due date for your property — often tied to the original installation date or a uniform date for all accounts in their program.
Exceptions to annual testing:
- New installations — must be tested before being placed into service, then annually thereafter
- Failed assemblies — must be repaired and re-tested; the re-test does not reset the annual clock
- High-hazard connections — some industrial or chemical applications may require more frequent testing per utility rules
Test Report Submission
After testing is complete, your certified tester fills out a standardized test report form documenting all measured values and the pass/fail result. The report must be submitted to your water utility within the required timeframe — typically 30 to 60 days of the test or due date.
Your tester is generally responsible for submitting the report directly to the utility. Always confirm this before hiring — some testers hand the report to the property owner for self-submission, while others handle it electronically. As the property owner, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring timely submission and compliance.
Keep a copy of every test report. Most utilities require records to be maintained for a minimum of three years. Test records may be requested during property sales, lease renewals, or regulatory inspections.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The consequences of missing a backflow testing deadline escalate over time:
- Past-due notice — your utility will send written notice that your test is overdue
- Notice of non-compliance — if not resolved within the utility’s stated period (often 30 days), a formal non-compliance notice is issued
- Service interruption — utilities have the authority to shut off water service to non-compliant properties. This is increasingly common for persistent non-compliance.
- Fines — some utilities assess daily fines for ongoing non-compliance
If you’ve received a past-due or non-compliance notice, contact a certified tester immediately. Most can accommodate urgent scheduling within a few days. Use this directory to find a certified tester in your area.
Major Indiana Utility Programs
While requirements are consistent in principle across Indiana, the specific administration differs by utility. Some of Indiana’s larger utility programs include:
- Citizens Energy Group (Indianapolis) — operates one of Indiana’s largest cross-connection control programs, with an online portal for test report submission and a published approved tester list
- Indiana American Water — multi-city utility with standardized cross-connection control programs across all service areas
- Fort Wayne City Utilities — maintains a local approved tester certification program in addition to ASSE credentials
- Evansville Water and Sewer Utility — requires annual testing with submission through their customer portal
Contact your specific utility to obtain their current approved tester list, your property’s testing due date, and instructions for test report submission.