A word to the wise: ask for backflow preventer certification before hiring someone to do backflow testing, backflow repair, or backflow inspections.

It will save you money in the long-run and keep you compliant with local, state, and Federal laws.

All states have a backflow certification program.  They may differ slightly, from state to state, but the bottom line is training to protect the general public from the damages and health concerns caused by backflow.  To give you an example, here is what the State of Texas says about backflow certification:

“A person who repairs or tests the installation or operation of backflow prevention assemblies must hold a license issued by the TCEQ. Backflow prevention assembly testers are qualified to test and repair assemblies on any domestic, commercial, industrial, or irrigation service. Backflow prevention assembly testers may test and repair assemblies on firelines only if they are permanently employed by an Approved Fireline Contractor.”

To obtain certification in Texas, one must meet certain requirements, including a high school diploma, two years of backflow work experience, and passing a forty-hour backflow certification course.

Why all this concern about backflow?

This discussion all begins with the original Clean Water legislation penned in the 1940’s. It was then amended in 1972, again in 1977, and once more in 1984. Altogether it is called The Clean Water Act, and its purpose is to ensure the integrity of the public’s water supply and to make sure no pollutants enter the water supply at cross connection points.  Before this Federal legislation let’s just say the regulations were lax at best.  By 1972 the regulations were stringent enough, and the penalties were strict enough, to pretty much ensure that all towns and cities were in compliance.  In other words, when you turn on your faucet, you can be confident that the water coming out is safe to drink.

Obviously there have been some high-profile cases regarding this legislation, the most notable being the drinking water debacle in Flint, Michigan, but by and large the water systems around the country are trustworthy and strictly protected.

So, what is backflow?

Backflow is the reversal in flow of water in the pipes. Normally water flows from the City’s water supply to your home, but on occasion, especially when there is a major drop in water pressure, it is possible for polluted water to flow from your home back to the City’s water supply. Obviously this is a health risk and obviously this must be avoided.   To make sure this does not happen, backflow preventers (one-way valves which only allow water to flow in one direction) are installed in the water piping, and those backflow devices must be  annually inspected by certified backflow inspectors.

Every city should have a list of certified backflow testers and testing companies, and every city should have regulations requiring backflow testing annually of backflow parts.  Check with your city’s water supplier for a list of certified backflow testing companies.

We are City Backflow Testing, serving the Greater Fort Worth area.  Give us a call at (817) 996-2000 if you have questions about backflow, or call us about rates and making an appointment for a backflow inspection.