Commercial Plumbing
Plumbing help for storefronts, offices, apartment buildings and retail centers.
Gas, backflow and larger buildings
Backflow Testing and Prevention in Tempe, AZ
A backflow assembly stops used water from flowing backward into the drinking supply. In Tempe, certain properties must keep one and have it tested every year.
Tell the dispatcher about the notice you received, and a contractor is lined up.
What to know
- Annual testingAssemblies are tested each year by a certified tester.
- Notice from the cityTempe sends a notice before the test is due.
- Repairs need a retestAfter any repair, the assembly is tested again.
Who needs an assembly
According to the City of Tempe, single-family homes used only as homes are exempt under state rules. Other residences, plus commercial and industrial customers, must install and maintain backflow assemblies under Tempe City Code Chapter 33 and Arizona rule R18-4-215.
An Environmental Compliance Inspector decides case by case, and notifies the bill payer in writing.
Testing and deadlines
The customer is responsible for keeping the assembly in working order, and the test must be done each year by a certified tester. After any repair, the assembly is retested at once and the results go to the city.
The city may begin enforcement if a notice is ignored, up to ending water service. Do not wait.
In Tempe
Irrigation, fire lines and Tempe property types
Large apartment complexes make up a big share of Tempe housing, and many have irrigation and fire lines that need protection. Managers should track due dates.
The city says fire lines should have a double check assembly. Contact its Environmental Services section to confirm what your property needs.
Pricing
What affects backflow service cost
Cost follows the number and type of assemblies.
Tempe provides a list of certified testers. Prices vary, so compare quotes.
Installation and permits
Installing or replacing an assembly needs a permit from the Building Health note Division. The assembly goes as close as possible to the service connection on private property.
Ask the contractor about location and permit before work starts.
Annual test or replacement of an assembly
Owners call for a routine yearly test, a failed assembly or the removal and replacement of several units at an apartment property. After any repair, the assembly is retested and the results go to the city.
Ask for the certified tester's credentials and the report. Keep records for at least three years, as the city advises.
Irrigation systems and the water supply
Irrigation systems can pull non-drinking water back toward the supply if pressure drops. That is why an assembly sits at the connection. This site does not list sprinkler repair, but the backflow assembly on the irrigation line is covered here.
Scheduling around the test
A test takes the water off at the assembly for a short time, so schedule it when you do not need irrigation or the building supply. Tell the tester about gates, dogs and locked equipment rooms, and confirm access for commercial buildings after hours.
After a passed test, the tester completes a report and sends or gives it to you. Keep it with your records. If the test fails, ask what is wrong, what the repair will cost and when the retest will happen.
Other outdoor water work
Water Line Repair & Replacement
Fix or renew the supply pipe running from the street meter to your home's main shutoff.
Leak Detection
Pinpoint hidden water loss behind drywall, under flooring or along the pipe buried in the yard.
Short answers
Backflow questions
Every year, by a certified tester, per the City of Tempe.
Single-family homes used only as homes are exempt under state rules. Other properties may need one. The city decides.
The city sends an overdue notice and can take enforcement action, up to ending water service.
Ask on the call. Whoever tests must be certified, and a retest follows any repair.
The line answers around the clock, so you can call any time. Routine tests are usually scheduled in the day, and a failed assembly or an overdue notice can be reported at once.
Tempe notes that prices vary and suggests getting several quotes. The dispatcher gives a clear quote before work begins.
Yes, if it is a testable assembly. Give the address and any notice you received.
Yes. A permit is needed, and the new assembly must be tested.
Sources
Figures and statements on this page that come from outside references are listed here.
Backflow test due?
Call the 24/7 line and mention your notice. A dispatcher lines up a local contractor.