StamparioBackflow testing requirements
In most US water systems every testable backflow assembly is tested once a year by a certified tester, and also after it is installed, repaired or relocated. The water purveyor sets the due date and the deadline for the report, usually between 7 and 30 days after the test.
How the yearly cycle works
- The purveyor mails the customer a notice, typically about 30 days before the test is due.
- The customer hires a certified tester, often whoever tested last year.
- The tester tests the assembly and submits the results by mail, email, fax or a portal such as BSI Online, VEPO, SwiftComply or Tokay.
- If no results arrive, the purveyor sends a final notice, and some eventually shut off service.
Testers who remind their customers before the utility’s notice arrives get the job. A reminder about 45 days ahead lands first.
What a test report includes
- Service address, water account and meter number, owner or contact
- Assembly type (RP, DC, PVB, SVB and others), make, model, size, serial and location
- Readings: check valve differentials in psid, relief valve opening point for RPs, air inlet and check readings for PVBs and SVBs
- Initial result, repairs and parts, retest readings and result
- Tester name, company, certification number, test kit make and serial, last calibration date, signature
Missing serial numbers and calibration dates are the usual reasons a purveyor sends a report back.
High-hazard sites
Some purveyors require more frequent testing for high-hazard sites such as hospitals, labs or mortuaries. Fire-line assemblies are also covered by NFPA 25 annual testing, so fire sprinkler contractors test them as well.
Common questions
Who sets the due date for a backflow test?
The water purveyor (your water utility). It is usually the anniversary of the last test or a fixed month for the account. The purveyor’s date is the one that counts, not the tester’s.
How fast must the report be submitted?
It depends on the purveyor: Tampa asks for results within 7 calendar days through SwiftComply, Louisville within 30 days of its notice, and many districts on BSI Online about 15 days.
Does my test kit need to be calibrated?
Yes. Gauges are accuracy-checked every year; Texas, for example, requires annual testing of the test kit. The calibration date belongs on every report.
Sources
- Louisville Water: 30-day backflow test notice
- City of Tampa: Backflow testing (SwiftComply, 7-day submission)
- TCEQ RG-493: Backflow prevention assembly testing (Texas)
- City of Las Cruces: Backflow test form (2024)
Codes change by edition and the authority having jurisdiction (your fire marshal, water purveyor or state agency) decides which rules apply. This page is general information, not legal advice.