FAQ
How Do I Find Out Which Water Authority Is Responsible for My New Jersey Property?
Knowing which water authority serves your property is the essential first step in understanding your backflow compliance obligations — because every aspect of the compliance process (the required device type, the test report format, the submission process, the deadline enforcement, and the penalties for non-compliance) is governed by your specific water authority’s cross-connection control program. This guide tells you exactly how to find out which authority serves you and what that means for your compliance.
For an explanation of the different types of water authorities in New Jersey, see our guide on the difference between NJ American Water and a Municipal Utility Authority.
Method 1: Check Your Water Bill
The most direct way to identify your water authority is to look at your water bill. The utility sending you a water bill is the authority responsible for your cross-connection control compliance. The bill will show the utility’s name, contact information, and customer service number. If you’re a renter and don’t receive a water bill directly (the landlord pays it), ask your landlord or property manager for this information.
Method 2: Call Your Municipality's Public Works or Engineering Department
If you can’t locate your water bill or need to confirm which authority serves your specific address, call your municipality’s public works, engineering, or utilities department. They can tell you whether your property is served by NJ American Water, the local MUA, the municipal water department, or a private water system.
Method 3: Use NJ American Water's Service Area Map
NJ American Water publishes service area information on their website. If you’re in a county that NJAW serves, you can check whether your specific municipality falls within their service area. Note that in many NJ counties, NJAW serves some municipalities while local MUAs serve others — so knowing your county doesn’t necessarily tell you your utility.
Method 4: Ask Your Backflow Testing Company
A good backflow prevention specialist knows the service territory for every water authority in the areas they serve. When you call South Jersey Backflow to schedule service, we can confirm which authority serves your property based on your address — and we know exactly what that authority’s compliance requirements and submission process are. contact South Jersey Backflow.
What Difference Does It Make Which Authority Serves Me?
Your water authority determines: what test report form is required, where and how to submit your test report, the deadline for annual test submission, the specific backflow device types they accept for each cross-connection type, and who enforces compliance and the nature of enforcement actions. Getting any of these elements wrong can leave you out of compliance even after completing a valid annual test with a passing result.
South Jersey Backflow eliminates this complexity by handling all authority-specific requirements for our customers. We know the requirements for every water authority throughout all of New Jersey — from NJ American Water’s centralized cross-connection control program to the individual forms and submission methods required by each local MUA. When we complete your annual test, we file your report correctly, in the right format, with the right authority, every time. Read more about our process in our guide to how backflow test reports get filed in New Jersey.
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.