Schedule Your Backflow Test Below
Schedule Your Backflow Test Below
Public water systems across Colorado are committed to protecting their customers from backflow of contaminants into the drinking water system from cross connections. Contaminated drinking water from cross-connections is a public health risk and must be prevented. All public water systems must comply with Colorado’s Primary Drinking Water Regulations, which contains a specific rule to prevent backflow. This rule helps protect customers by making sure that backflow prevention assemblies are installed and tested annually.
Want to say hello? Want to know more about us? Drop us an email and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Backflow
Backflow is the reverse flow of water, or other liquids, gases, or substances, into the drinking water supply—an occurrence that should be prevented at all costs.
Backflow can happen in two primary ways:
Backsiphonage: This occurs when there’s a drop in pressure within the water distribution system, causing water from a private system to be pulled into the public supply. Events like water main breaks or large firefighting efforts can create such negative pressure.
Backpressure: This takes place when the pressure in a private water system becomes higher than the pressure in the public water lines, potentially causing the normal flow to reverse. For instance, a pump used to boost water pressure to reach higher floors in a building could create backpressure.
Cross-Connections
Cross-connections are points where the public water supply is linked to another system, creating the potential for contaminants to inadvertently enter the public water supply.
The Environmental Protection Agency warns that cross-connections pose a significant public health risk if not properly protected with backflow prevention assemblies. There have been numerous documented instances where cross-connections led to drinking water contamination, resulting in the spread of illness or disease when consumed.
Backflow Prevention Assemblies
A backflow prevention assembly is a mechanical valve system designed to stop water from flowing backward once it has passed through the valve.
As with any mechanical device, regular maintenance and annual testing are essential to ensure its proper function. Various types of backflow prevention assemblies are required depending on the specific use and level of hazard involved.
No exemptions or grandfathering apply to backflow prevention assembly requirements.
Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies
Any backflow prevention assembly installed within Denver Water’s distribution system must have approval from the University of Southern California’s Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, commonly referred to as USC approval.
To ensure compliance, verify with your backflow prevention assembly manufacturer or consult the product specification sheets to confirm that the assembly is USC-approved. Additionally, make sure the assembly is approved for the specific orientation in which it will be installed (horizontal, vertical, etc.).
Types of Backflow Prevention Assemblies
Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly (RP)
RPs are required for most commercial, industrial, and some multi-family applications. They can also be used on irrigation systems where a Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB) isn’t suitable.
Installation Requirements:
Double Check Valve Assembly (DC)
DCs are used for fire lines without antifreeze or chemical additives and in some residential settings. They are not permitted for use in irrigation systems.
Installation Requirements:
Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB)
PVBs are specifically designed for use in irrigation systems, with certain limitations.
Installation Requirements:
Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB)
AVBs are typically used as point-of-use devices for specific internal plumbing processes. Denver Water does not allow AVBs for any type of containment or irrigation applications. Irrigation systems must instead be protected with either a Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly (RP) or a Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB), depending on the installation requirements.
Irrigation Backflows
The irrigation backflow testing season runs from May through September. To protect our drinking water during this period, irrigation backflow prevention assemblies must be tested by a certified backflow assembly tester when the water is turned on. This ensures that proper backflow prevention measures are in place. Denver Water will send a reminder notice 30 days before your annual test is due.