FAQ
How Does South Jersey Backflow File Test Reports with NJ American Water and Local MUAs?
One of the most common frustrations property owners and managers encounter with backflow compliance is the paperwork. A completed test is only half the job — the test report must be filed with the right authority, in the right format, by the right deadline. Get any of those elements wrong and you may still face a compliance notice despite having a passing test report in hand. This guide explains exactly how South Jersey Backflow handles report filing for our customers throughout New Jersey, eliminating this administrative burden entirely.
For context on the different authorities you may need to file with, see our guide to the difference between NJ American Water and local MUAs.
Why Report Filing Matters as Much as the Test Itself
Under New Jersey’s N.J.A.C. 7:14B regulations, compliance isn’t achieved by completing a passing test — it’s achieved by having a passing test report on file with your water authority. A property owner who has a passing test report in a desk drawer but never submitted it to the authority is still legally non-compliant. This distinction is important, and it’s why working with a testing company that handles filing as part of the service is so valuable. See our guide on what a backflow test report looks like and where it gets filed.
How We Handle NJ American Water Filings
New Jersey American Water operates a centralized cross-connection control database and requires test reports to be submitted through their specific process. For most NJ American Water service areas, reports can be submitted electronically through their online portal or by email to their cross-connection control department. NJ American Water has specific approved test report forms that must be used — generic forms are not accepted.
South Jersey Backflow maintains accounts with NJ American Water’s cross-connection control system. After completing each test, our technicians complete the official NJ American Water test report form (or equivalent accepted form for the specific service district), and we submit the completed report electronically to NJAW’s cross-connection control department. You receive a copy of the filed report for your records.
How We Handle Local MUA Filings
New Jersey’s dozens of local MUAs each have their own submission processes. South Jersey Backflow maintains a current database of submission requirements for every MUA in our service territory — which covers all 21 New Jersey counties. Our submission process for each MUA follows their specific requirements:
For MUAs with online portals (increasingly common): direct portal submission after each test
For MUAs accepting email submissions: report emailed to the designated cross-connection control contact
For MUAs requiring paper forms: physical report mailed or delivered within the required timeline
For MUAs with specific form requirements: we use only the MUA-approved form for that authority
What Happens If an Authority's Requirements Change?
Water utility submission requirements evolve over time as utilities upgrade their systems and change their processes. South Jersey Backflow actively monitors for changes in submission requirements among all authorities we serve and updates our filing procedures accordingly. This is one of the practical advantages of working with a dedicated backflow specialist rather than a general plumber: we stay current on the administrative requirements that general plumbers rarely track.
How Quickly Are Reports Filed After Testing?
South Jersey Backflow files test reports with the appropriate authority within 48 hours of completing the test in the vast majority of cases. For authorities with urgent compliance deadlines, we can often file same-day. You receive your copy of the completed report by email promptly after testing.
What if a Property Serves Multiple Authorities?
Some commercial properties — particularly those on municipal boundary lines or with multiple service connections — may have backflow devices registered with different water authorities. South Jersey Backflow identifies this situation during our initial property assessment and ensures each device’s test report is filed with the correct authority for that specific connection.
For more on our complete service process, see our full range of backflow preventer services page or contact South Jersey Backflow to schedule service.
Schedule Your Backflow Service Anywhere in New Jersey
South Jersey Backflow has proudly served residential and commercial customers across all of New Jersey since 2004. Our certified technicians provide annual backflow testing and certification, expert repairs and rebuilds, and protective backflow enclosures — all with transparent pricing, complete paperwork handling, and 24/7 emergency availability. Call (856) 291-6809 or contact us online to get started today.