# Backflow Preventer Installation and Certification

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.

## 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.

- 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.

## 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: 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.

## 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

**How often does an assembly need testing?**

The interval is set by the authority with jurisdiction. We confirm the schedule that applies to your property and assembly.

**What happens if a test fails?**

The assembly is repaired or replaced and retested. Authorities generally require a passing report within a defined window.

**Can I install my own assembly?**

No. Installation and testing must be done by qualified, licensed parties and reported to the authority.

**Are you Denver Water?**

No. Denver Sewer and Water is a private, family owned and operated company. We are not Denver Water or the City and County of Denver. We are the licensed contractor who performs the physical work after the authority with jurisdiction issues the permit.

**Can you tell me my tap fee amount over the phone?**

We can tell you which fees apply to your project type and who charges them. The dollar amounts come from the authority with jurisdiction, and we confirm them for your specific address rather than quoting from memory.

## Related Tap Services and Municipal Process Pages

- [Fire Line Tap and Installation](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/fire-line-tap-installation) Dedicated fire service taps, backflow requirements, and fire authority sign-off.
- [Denver Water Tap Installation](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/denver-water-tap-installation) Who authorizes a water tap, who physically makes the connection, and how the two fit together.
- [Water Meter Pit Installation](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/water-meter-pit-installation) Meter pits and vaults, who supplies the meter, and who builds the pit.
- [Water Service Line Upsizing](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/water-service-line-upsizing) Increasing service size for added fixtures, fire service, or a remodel.
- [Tap Permit Process in Denver](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/tap-permit-process-denver) How a tap moves from application to authorized construction in Denver.
- [Sanitary Sewer Connection for New Construction](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/sanitary-sewer-connection-new-construction) Sequencing the sewer connection inside a new build schedule.

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Denver Sewer and Water is a privately owned, licensed and insured plumbing contractor. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Denver Water, the municipal water utility, or any government entity. To pay a municipal water bill or reach the public utility, visit denverwater.org.

Source: https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/backflow-preventer-installation-certification