Does Your Backflow Prevention Device Require Annual Testing?
Eze-flow Plumbing is Your Backflow Prevention Specialist
Ensuring your property and business remains compliant, safe and certified with annual backflow testing
Backflow prevention devices are designed to protect the potable water supply by preventing contaminated water from flowing back into the main drinking water system..
Across the Northern Beaches and North Shore, we often take the quality of our drinking water for granted. However, contamination can still occur before water reaches your tap. For example, construction works may accidentally damage a pipe or a water main may burst, causing a sudden change in water pressure within the supply network. When this occurs, contaminated water can be drawn back upstream, potentially allowing harmful bacteria, chemicals or other contaminants to enter the drinking water supply.
Backflow prevention devices act as a one-way valve, preventing contaminated water from entering the drinking water network. To ensure these devices operate correctly and remain compliant with Sydney Water requirements, they must be tested annually and certified by a licensed and accredited plumber.
Eze-Flow Plumbing provides professional backflow prevention device testing, installation and compliance services across the Northern Beaches, North Shore and greater Sydney.
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Our backflow prevention services include:
- Install and commission new backflow prevention devices
- Annual backflow prevention device testing and certification
- Perform servicing and maintenance on existing devices
- Certify and lodge compliance reports with Sydney Water
Eze-Flow Plumbing provides certified backflow prevention device testing, installation and compliance reporting for commercial, industrial and strata properties across Sydney's Northern Beaches and North Shore.
Many commercial and industrial properties are required to install and maintain backflow prevention devices to protect the potable water supply. These commonly include dentists or medical centres, hospitals, mechanics or heavy industrial sites, laundromats, car wash facilities, hotels and motels, restaurants and hospitality venues, golf courses and properties with irrigation systems, as well as multi-residential buildings such as apartment buildings.
Backflow prevention devices must be tested annually by a licensed and accredited plumber to ensure compliance with Sydney Water regulations.
Need a Backflow Device Tested?
Contact Chris. We are available to help 24/7 via email or telephone
Which Properties Require Backflow Prevention Devices and Annual Testing?
Sydney Water requires backflow prevention devices to be installed on commercial, industrial and multi-residential properties where there is a risk of contamination entering the potable water supply.
Properties that commonly require backflow prevention devices and annual testing include:
- Commercial office buildings
- Industrial warehouses and factories
- Medical centres, dentists and hospitals
- Childcare centres and schools
- Restaurants, cafés and commercial kitchens
- Hotels and motels
- Laundromats and car wash facilities
- Mechanics, service stations and heavy industrial sites
- Shopping centres and retail complexes
- Golf courses and properties with irrigation systems
- Strata buildings and multi-residential unit complexes
These properties often have multiple backflow prevention devices installed throughout the site, which must be tested annually and certified by a licensed and accredited plumber to ensure the drinking water supply remains protected.
Most residential properties have 20–25mm Sydney Water meters, which already contain an internal backflow prevention device, meaning a separate containment device is generally not required. However, Sydney Water requires properties with larger water meters or higher-risk water connections to install a separate containment backflow prevention device after the meter.
The simplest device that can be installed to a home irrigation line is an atmospheric vacuum breaker or single check valve. When using garden chemicals such as “Weed’N’ Feed” connected to the garden hose you may be poisoning the property’s water supply. This happens if there’s a drop in water pressure from the main water supply. It causes the chemicals to be sucked back up the line into the property’s water supply.
How Often Do They Require Testing?
Backflow devices must be tested every 12 months. Any time a backflow device is installed by a licenced plumber they must be registered with Sydney Water.
If your device has been registered correctly, Sydney Water issues annual reminders and requires the testing of the device to be completed by a specific date. All testing of devices must be recorded with Sydney Water. If you don’t receive letters from Sydney Water it’s likely that your device has not been registered with them and has never been tested. Not to worry, we can test and register your device for you. Contact us today.
Important Note for Property Managers & Facility Managers
Many commercial and strata properties have multiple backflow prevention devices installed throughout the site. Sydney Water typically requires only the devices connected to the main Sydney Water meter or boundary connection, as well as those protecting the fire services, to be registered and reported annually.
However, properties often have additional backflow prevention devices installed internally, such as those protecting irrigation systems, commercial kitchens, plant rooms or other equipment. While these internal devices are not registered with Sydney Water, they still require annual testing and maintenance to ensure they are operating correctly and protecting the potable water supply.
It is common for some of these devices to be overlooked during routine maintenance. Eze-Flow Plumbing can assist property owners and facility managers by identifying all backflow devices on site and ensuring they are tested and maintained in accordance with best practice. Following testing, we provide detailed reports and certification documentation so property managers have accurate records for compliance, audits and ongoing maintenance planning.
Eze-Flow Plumbing specialises in compliance testing and preventative maintenance of plumbing infrastructure, helping property managers maintain safe and compliant water systems across commercial, industrial and strata properties.
Received Notice From Sydney Water?
Contact Chris. We are available to help 24/7 via email or telephone
What Happens if the Back Flow Fails the Annual Test?
If a backflow device fails its test it either needs repairing or full replacement. Once you have been notified that a device has failed it is essential that its fixed within 7 days. Once the device has been rectified it is then tested again and results are recorded with Sydney Water.
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