Backflow Testing & Prevention in Englewood, CO
Backflow testing checks that a backflow prevention assembly still stops water from flowing backward into the public water supply. Backflow prevention covers installing and repairing those assemblies where a cross-connection exists. In Englewood, CO commercial and multifamily properties must submit an annual test each year by August 15 under the city's cross-connection program.
Got a notice from the city? Here is what it means
Most people look up backflow testing because a letter or email arrived. These are the usual reasons.
- Your business or apartment building has a backflow assembly that needs its annual test.
- An inspection found an uncontrolled cross-connection that needs an assembly installed.
- A previous test failed and the assembly must be repaired and retested.
- An irrigation system, fire sprinkler system or boiler feed has been added or changed.
- You bought a commercial or multifamily property and inherited its assemblies.
If you need more time to complete a test, the city accepts extension requests. Asking early is better than missing the deadline.
Englewood's cross-connection program
The City of Englewood runs a Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control program to keep contaminants from being drawn back into the drinking water system. Englewood Utilities requires commercial and multifamily properties to test their backflow assemblies every year and submit certification by August 15.
The city also inspects properties when needed to identify hazards. If an inspection finds an uncontrolled cross-connection, the property owner has 45 days to resolve it, unless an extension is approved.
The city lists irrigation systems, fire sprinkler systems, heating and cooling systems, industrial and medical systems, and swimming pools as common examples of cross-connections. Statewide, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment requires testable assemblies to be tested annually by a certified tester. The IPC (International Plumbing Code) sets the installation side, requiring backflow protection on connections such as lawn irrigation, boiler feeds and fire sprinkler systems.
Backflow deadline coming up?
Call to schedule testing before August 15. Failed assemblies can often be repaired on the same visit.
What to do if you suspect a backflow event
Backflow is rare, but it can happen during a water main break or when a hose is left in a chemical bucket. These are the safe steps.
- Stop drinking and cooking with tap water if it suddenly looks, smells or tastes unusual.
- Remove any hose that is submerged in a pool, bucket, sprayer tank or tub.
- Report the change to Englewood Utilities so the city can check the system.
- Do not flush a commercial system or bypass an assembly until the cause is known.
- Have the backflow assembly tested before normal use resumes.
Types of backflow assemblies
The right device depends on the hazard level of the connection.
| Assembly | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reduced pressure zone (RPZ) | High-hazard connections such as some commercial and medical systems. | Has a relief valve that may discharge water, so drainage matters. |
| Double check valve assembly | Lower-hazard connections such as many fire sprinkler systems. | Compact and common in commercial buildings. |
| Pressure vacuum breaker | Irrigation systems. | Must be installed above the highest sprinkler head. |
| Atmospheric vacuum breaker | Some hose and irrigation connections. | Not testable, so it is often replaced with a testable device. |
What happens during a backflow test
- Schedule. A short water shutoff is arranged with the property, often outside business hours.
- Test the assembly. A certified tester uses a differential pressure gauge to check each check valve and relief valve.
- Repair if it fails. Worn rubber parts, springs or relief valves are rebuilt or replaced, then the assembly is retested.
- Submit results. The test report is submitted as the city requires, and you keep a copy for your records.
For properties with several assemblies, we can test them all in one visit. If the backflow issue is part of a broader building plumbing problem, the rest is handled through our commercial plumbing work.
What affects the cost of backflow work
Testing is a predictable cost. Repairs and installations vary more.
Number of assemblies
Each assembly is tested and reported separately.
Assembly size and type
Larger RPZ assemblies take longer to test and cost more to rebuild.
Repair parts
Rubber kits are inexpensive. Replacing a whole assembly costs more.
New installation
Adding an assembly to resolve a cross-connection may involve piping changes and a permit.
Scheduling
Tests outside business hours can reduce disruption for tenants or customers.
Backflow testing is a regulatory requirement and is not covered by insurance. Keeping test records current also helps if contamination is ever alleged.
Want a real number for your property? Call (303) 552-3896, day or night.
Backflow questions in Englewood
Englewood Utilities requires commercial and multifamily properties to submit annual backflow assembly certification by August 15.
The city follows up on missing certifications. If you need more time, it is better to request an extension before the deadline than to miss it.
The city's annual testing requirement is aimed at commercial and multifamily properties. Homes with testable devices on irrigation or other systems should still keep them working, and we can test residential devices on request.
Any connection where drinking water could mix with another source, such as an irrigation line, a boiler, a fire sprinkler system or a pool fill line. A hot-water heating system is a common one, and our boiler repair page covers the fill valve and backflow device on that system.
Often yes, if the parts are on hand. We repair the assembly and retest it so the report shows a passing result.
Backflow testing in Englewood and nearby
We test and repair backflow assemblies for businesses, apartment buildings and HOAs across ZIP codes 80110 and 80113, including shops along South Broadway and buildings near CityCenter. Office and retail properties in nearby Greenwood Village have their own water provider's rules, and we can test assemblies there too.