Backflow Testing in Boulder, CO

When to call about backflow in Boulder

• The calendar year is running out and this year's test hasn't been filed
• A city hang tag says the property is out of compliance
• The sprinkler assembly sprays or drips once the system is pressurized
• A tester reported a failed check or relief valve
• You are adding irrigation, a boiler or another connection that needs protection

Boulder's backflow program

City of Boulder Utilities runs its own water system, fed from Barker Reservoir, North Boulder Creek, Carter Lake and Boulder Reservoir depending on the season. Its backflow program is direct about who carries the load: owners install, test and maintain the assemblies, and every device must be tested each year. Compliance is tracked by calendar year rather than by the date the device was installed, so the deadline is the same for everyone.

The tester has to be certified by ABPA or ASSE, and the tester, not the homeowner, enters the results in the city's online portal. Properties that fall out of compliance get a hang tag, and the city can shut off water service if the problem isn't fixed. Questions go to the program at 303-413-7401 or nobackflow@bouldercolorado.gov.

Boulder's climate adds its own wear. Devices on sprinkler lines sit outdoors through freezing nights near the Flatirons, and a missed fall drain-down is a common reason a spring test fails. City customers are also responsible for the area between the meter pit and the street, so a leak near the pit is worth a closer look while the plumber is there.

Cost factors

• How many devices. A home with both an irrigation assembly and an indoor one needs two tests.
• Repair parts. Rubber checks, springs and relief valve kits are common replacements after a failure.
• Replacement. A frozen and split unit is usually replaced, which may be single-trade permit work through Planning and Development Services.
• Access and timing. Hard-to-reach enclosures and end-of-year rush periods add time.

What to expect on the call

An independent plumber who serves Boulder will ask what kind of device you have and whether it has a test record. If you got a hang tag, have it handy. Ask whether they are ABPA or ASSE certified so the test and the portal filing happen in one visit.