Background Pipes, Photo by Elimende Inagella on Unsplash

Shakopee Backflow Testing

Backflow Testing is required by the Minnesota Department of Health. We are state-licensed testers that will provide you with a certificate of compliance.

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Do I need a backflow test?

Protecting our community's drinking water is a top priority. In Shakopee, like in many Minnesota communities, backflow testing is essential for certain properties to prevent contamination of the public water supply. You may need a backflow test if your property has:

    An Irrigation System (Lawn Sprinklers): These are common culprits for potential backflow if not properly protected. Shakopee Public Utilities (SPU) requires backflow assemblies on irrigation systems to be tested annually.
    Fire Sprinkler Systems: Commercial properties and some residential buildings with fire suppression systems often require backflow prevention and testing.
    Commercial Properties: Many businesses, especially those using chemicals, boilers, or having complex plumbing systems, are required to have and test backflow preventers to ensure public safety.
    Multi-Family Homes: Properties with shared water lines, like apartment buildings or condos, may need backflow testing to protect all residents.

What is Backflow Testing?

Backflow testing is a crucial process that ensures the safety and purity of our drinking water. But what exactly is it?

Understanding Backflow

Backflow is the unwanted reversal of water flow in your plumbing system. Instead of water flowing from the city's main into your property, water (and potentially contaminants) from your property flows back into the public drinking water supply. This can happen due to:

  • Backpressure: When the pressure in your private plumbing system (e.g., from a pump or boiler) becomes greater than the pressure in the city's water main.
  • Backsiphonage: When there's a sudden drop in pressure in the city's water main (e.g., due to a water main break or firefighting efforts nearby), creating a siphon effect that can pull water from your property back into the system.

If backflow occurs, substances like pesticides from an irrigation system, chemicals from a commercial process, or even wastewater could contaminate the clean water supply, posing serious health risks to the community.

The Role of a Backflow Preventer

To stop this from happening, a "backflow prevention assembly" (often called a backflow preventer) is installed on your water line. This device acts like a one-way gate, allowing water to flow into your property but preventing it from flowing backward.

The Testing Process

Backflow testing is the procedure used to verify that your backflow preventer is working correctly. A certified backflow tester will:

  1. Notify you and briefly shut off the water supply to the device.
  2. Connect a specialized test kit with gauges to the backflow preventer.
  3. Perform a series of tests by manipulating the valves on the assembly to check if the internal components (like check valves and relief valves) are functioning properly and preventing backflow under various pressure conditions.
  4. Record the results. If the device passes, the tester will tag it and submit the necessary documentation to Shakopee Public Utilities.
  5. Recommend repairs or replacement if the device fails the test. The device must then be re-tested after repairs are made.

The entire test for a single device usually takes about 20-30 minutes. Regular testing, typically annually in Shakopee, ensures these critical safety devices are always ready to protect our drinking water.