Backflow Prevention

State regulations require the City of Boulder to maintain a Backflow Prevention Program to track the installation and annual testing of backflow prevention assemblies on all hazardous cross-connections (potential points for contamination and backflow).

State regulations require the City of Boulder to maintain a Backflow Prevention Program to track the installation and annual testing of backflow prevention assemblies on all hazardous cross-connections (potential points for contamination and backflow).

The City of Boulder recently discovered a violation of the Colorado Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control regulations. This is not an emergency and does not impact public health. As our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what the city is doing to correct this situation.

Haga clic aqui para leer esta notificación en español.

What happened?

• State and local regulations require owners of backflow devices to have all devices inspected and tested annually. If a device fails the annual test, property owners are required to repair or replace the device within 120 days.
• The city identified 16 backflow prevention devices with failed tests that were not repaired or replaced within 120 days. This is about 0.2% of the 7,000+ devices in the city. Of these, 9 have been resolved.

What do you need to do?

• You do not need to take any action related to your drinking water or seek an alternate supply of drinking water. If this had been an emergency, you would have been notified immediately.
• The city is not aware of any water contamination due to this violation. City staff collect water quality samples throughout the city on a weekly basis. None of our testing has shown disease-causing organisms in the drinking water, or other reason for concern.
• Commercial, industrial and multi-family property owners must ensure backflow devices are tested annually and reported to the city.
• Per state regulations, the city is required to notify the community that: “Uncontrolled cross connections can lead to a back pressure or siphonage event that may allow contaminants or disease-causing organisms to enter the drinking water, which can cause diarrhea, nausea, cramps and associated headaches.”

What is being done?

• The city has issued notices of violation to property owners to repair or replace and retest the failed devices.
• Staff have automated tracking systems and are reviewing compliance data more frequently.
• The city has increased enforcement, including suspension of water service, for property owners who fail to comply prior to the 120-day regulatory deadline.

All annual test reports for backflow assemblies must be submitted online by a certified tester.

All properties as described above must comply with state regulations for the installation and annual testing of backflow prevention assemblies.

View information on installation criteria and/or which backflow prevention assemblies are required to be installed and tested annually. City staff may need to survey properties to determine whether cross-connections are present, what the degree of hazard is or if approved assemblies are installed in proper locations.

The city’s Backflow Prevention Program tracks the installation and annual testing of "containment" assemblies. Containment assemblies must be installed after the meter but prior to any plumbing branches. It is possible that two containment assemblies may be required.

Other assemblies may be required inside a property by plumbing code. These are called "isolation" assemblies because they isolate internal hazards. In most cases the city does not track these assemblies. It is strongly recommended that isolation assemblies are tested annually along with containment assemblies as they can keep water inside the property safe for consumption.

Pressure vacuum breakers that are currently being used for backflow prevention on dedicated irrigation lines are acceptable as long as the assembly passes annual tests. If a pressure vacuum breaker fails and requires replacement, it must be replaced with a Reduced Pressure Zone assembly. See City of Boulder Design and Construction Standards 5.09(c)(4) for additional information.

Failure to install a required backflow device or get all devices on a property tested on an annual basis may result in water service shut-off or up to a $1,000 fine.

The city is responsible for ensuring full compliance with State of Colorado backflow prevention requirements. If the city does not meet state regulations, the city’s water supply is at risk and the city may be required to notify all City of Boulder water customers that we have violated state regulations.