Backflow Testing Program

Backflow Prevention Assemblies
  1. About the Program
  2. Guidelines
  3. Customers
  4. Records
  5. Enforcement
  6. Testers & Testing Companies
  7. Support & Reference
  8. Assembly Example

Testing Requirements

Federal and state laws require all water providers to meet certain standards to obtain, treat, and deliver water to protect public health. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires all water providers establish a Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Program. Generally, this includes establishing requirements for the installation of backflow assemblies or devices preventing the flows or back-siphonage from unwanted connections that may threaten public health. TCEQ requires all backflow devices or assemblies:

  • Must be tested upon installation and at least once annually. Additional testing may be required depending on the health hazard.
  • Must receive a periodic Customer Service Inspection. The inspections are intended to identify and validate all device locations, their appropriateness, and determine if additional devices are required.

Hazards

The City will begin mailing informational letters to businesses and residences that are potential high hazard connections to the public water system in January 2016. Recipients who receive this notification have active water connections that may potentially contaminate the City’s water distribution system through improper cross-connections within structure plumbing and/or improperly functioning backflow prevention devices.

Types of high hazard locations include, but are not limited to:

  • Apartments
  • Commercial kitchens
  • Dry Cleaners
  • Funeral homes
  • Laboratories
  • Medical and Dental facilities
  • Multi-tenant centers
  • Restaurants
  • Schools
  • Septic system locations
  • Veterinary facilities
  • Water connections from outside water sources (e.g., amenity lakes, canals, and reclaimed water)
  • Well water locations

Additionally, effective April 1, 2016, the City’s third party service provider, BSI Inc., will begin mailing official notifications requiring annual certification of applicable backflow assemblies for these locations. Archived backflow certifications have been sent to BSI for their database. If a certification has been completed and submitted to the City within the past twelve months, BSI will schedule the location’s next annual testing accordingly.

Program Implementation

Implementation of this program is mandated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Compliance verification will be scheduled by the Building Official to review location’s backflow requirements.

Contact the City’s Backflow Program Administrator, Michael Broussard, at 281-554-1266 or email BPAT with questions and/or concerns.

Backflow Assembly Testers 

View the updated listing of backflow assembly testers.