Backflow Preventer Installation and Certification
An independent, licensed plumbing contractor. Not affiliated with Denver Water or the City and County of Denver.
A backflow preventer keeps water from reversing out of a private system into the public main. Denver Sewer and Water is a private contractor. The authority sets which assembly is required and where the test report goes. We install the assembly and coordinate the certification.
- Protects the public water supply.
- Assembly type set by the authority.
- Certified testing and reporting.
- Common on fire and irrigation services.
- Private contractor, not the utility.
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What Backflow Prevention Is
Backflow is water moving the wrong direction through a service, back toward the public main. It can happen when main pressure drops or when pressure on the private side rises. A backflow preventer is a mechanical assembly that stops it.
Assemblies come in several types with different levels of protection. Which one is required depends on the hazard level of the connected system, and that determination belongs to the authority, not the contractor.
Testable assemblies must be certified by a licensed tester on a schedule set by the authority, with results reported to them.
(720) 935-6221Where Backflow Protection Is Usually Required
- Fire suppression services.
- Irrigation systems connected to potable water.
- Commercial kitchens and process equipment.
- Boilers and closed loop systems with chemical treatment.
- Any connection the authority classifies as a cross connection hazard.
How We Diagnose It
Who Authorizes the Tap and Who Performs the Tap
Denver Sewer and Water is a private, family owned and operated contractor. We are not Denver Water or the City and County of Denver. We do not issue permits, set fees, own the mains, or approve service. The utility or municipality with jurisdiction does all of that.
The water authority classifies the hazard, specifies the assembly type, sets the testing interval, and receives the test reports. Enforcement, including service consequences for missed testing, sits with them.
Denver Sewer and Water installs and replaces assemblies and coordinates certified testing so the report reaches the authority on time.
The authority authorizes. The licensed contractor performs. Below is the split for this type of work.
Authority Side and Contractor Side
- Authority: Classifies the hazard and specifies the required assembly.
- Authority: Sets the testing interval and receives test reports.
- Authority: Inspects installations and enforces compliance.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Installs or replaces the assembly in an approved configuration.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Builds or modifies the vault, room, or enclosure it sits in.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Coordinates certified testing after installation.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Submits documentation to the authority.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Handles repair or replacement when an assembly fails a test.
How Backflow Work Runs
- 1
Confirm the Requirement
We verify the assembly type the authority requires for the hazard class involved before ordering anything.
- 2
Install to Configuration
Orientation, clearances, and drainage all matter for approval. The assembly is set the way the standard requires.
- 3
Certified Test
A licensed tester certifies the assembly after installation and documents the results.
- 4
Report and Close Out
The report goes to the authority and you get a copy for your records and your next test cycle.
Work With a Contractor Who Handles the Paperwork Side Too
Backflow Costs and Recurring Obligations
Authority side charges can include permit, inspection, and program administration. Those are set by the authority.
Contractor side covers the assembly, installation, enclosure work, and testing. Recurring certification is an ongoing owner obligation on the authority's schedule.
We do not publish fee amounts. Tap fees, plant investment fees, permit fees, and inspection fees are set by the authority with jurisdiction and change on their schedule, not ours. We confirm the current figures in writing with that authority for your address before work is scheduled.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We install, replace, and coordinate certified testing so the report gets filed on time.