Backflow Testing in Arvada, CO

Does every Arvada backflow assembly need a yearly test?

On City of Arvada water, yes. The program, written into City Code Chapter 102, Article V, says all backflow prevention assemblies must be inspected and tested annually. That's broader than programs in some neighboring cities that focus only on commercial buildings. If your home has an assembly on its sprinkler system, it falls under the same rule. The program line is 720-898-7793.

Not every Arvada address is on city water, though. Ralston Valley Water and Sanitation District, Valley Water, Clear Creek Sanitation District, North Table Mountain Water, Consolidated Mutual Water Company and Denver Water serve some areas inside city limits. If one of them bills you, its rules apply. The city's district maps show which provider covers your address.

Who can test, and how do results reach the city?

Testers have to register on the city's SAMS testing portal, which is how Arvada approves them, and they submit results there. That means the person you hire should already be set up on SAMS. If they aren't, the test may not count. After a passing test, ask for a copy of the report for your records, along with the date it was filed.

A related rule matters if the job grows. Water and sewer service work in the public right-of-way requires a City of Arvada General Municipal Contractor's license; plumbing license holders may pull permits for work on private property only.

Who owns the device and the pipe it sits on?

The city owns the water service line from the main to the meter pit, and the property owner owns the line from the meter pit to the foundation, along with responsibility for that portion under City Code 102.76. Backflow assemblies on the owner's side are the owner's to maintain, test and repair. Arvada also prohibits lead and pre-1960 galvanized service lines in its system, so a plumber working near the meter may flag an older line.

A note on Arvada homes

Arvada's median home was built in 1979, and about 52.5% predate 1980. Many houses around Olde Town and along Ralston Road and Wadsworth had irrigation added years after they were built. Older tie-ins sometimes lack a drain valve, so they freeze more easily. A plumber doing the annual test can tell you if a device sits in a spot that makes winter damage likely.