A backflow prevention device prevents contaminated water (usually from your fire suppression system or a hot tub or pool) from flowing back into the public water supply system or into the drinking water inside your house.

Annual testing is required by the State of Colorado for certain backflow prevention devices. Testing ensures the device functions correctly and also safeguards the public water supply as well as the drinking water in your home.

These regulations are especially important in communities like The Village, where every home and business have a fire suppression system. Many of these systems contain antifreeze, which poses a serious health risk if it backflows into the drinking water. Additionally, many homes have pools or hot tubs, which can also pose a health risk. Staying on top of testing helps prevent this contamination and is in every resident’s best interest.

Property owners are responsible for hiring their own certified tester. The only requirements are that your tester must be registered with BSI Online (the platform used to submit and track test results) and your tester must be certified to test backflow prevention devices on fire suppression systems. The District does not recommend or endorse any specific tester. Residents are solely responsible for selecting, hiring, and contracting with a certified tester, and the District is not responsible for any work performed or for the outcome of any testing, repair, or replacement services.

BSI Online is the platform used by the District to track backflow prevention test results. All certified testers must be registered with BSI Online to submit results. Certified testers will submit results to BSI Online on your behalf (you do not need to contact BSI Online). This system ensures consistency, helps us monitor compliance, and simplifies recordkeeping for both the District and property owners.

Your certified tester submits results directly through BSI Online, and the District pulls records from that system, so you do not need to send anything to us yourself. Please contact us if you want to confirm your result was received and recorded. We also recommend asking your tester for a copy of the completed test report for your own records.

Every home in The Village has at least two backflow prevention devices, and some homes may have more. Under the State of Colorado regulations, only the following devices are required to be tested annually:

• The backflow prevention device connected to the fire suppression system in your home.
• The backflow prevention device serving your home’s water supply system if you have a hot tub or swimming pool that is permanently connected to the system.

A hot tub or pool is considered permanently connected if it is plumbed directly into your home’s water supply and automatically fills or maintains water levels. If you fill it using a garden hose or other temporary method, it is not considered permanently connected and does not require annual testing.

If you do not have a permanently connected hot tub or pool, you are not required to test the backflow prevention device serving your home’s water supply system. Additionally, the backflow prevention device connected to your home’s irrigation system is not typically required to be tested.

While the requirement itself is not new, the State of Colorado has identified all homes in The Village as requiring annual testing due to the presence of fire suppression systems. This is a renewed enforcement of an existing rule based on the unique characteristics of our neighborhood.

Applicable backflow prevention devices must be tested annually (every 365 days). We recommend testing all of your devices at the same time.

Testing is due every 365 days, measured from the date of your last passing test. There is no single community-wide deadline, so your due date depends on when you last tested. You can contact us if you are unsure of your last test date.

It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure your backflow prevention devices are safely operating and to pay for testing. The District does not reimburse or cover any costs associated with testing, failed tests, repairs, or retesting.

No. The District previously offered a one-time bill credit for backflow prevention devices that passed testing. That program ended July 31, 2026 and is no longer available. Annual testing remains a State requirement, and property owners are responsible for the full cost of testing.

Testing generally costs approximately $100 to $120 per device depending on the vendor you select. If the backflow prevention device does not pass the test, then additional costs may be required for repairs. All repair, replacement, and retesting costs are the sole responsibility of the homeowner.

Backflow prevention devices that fail inspection are considered non-compliant and must be repaired and retested. Most certified backflow technicians can complete repairs at the time of inspection at the property owner’s expense.

Although single-family residences are typically exempt from this requirement, the homes within The Village are all required to have fire suppression systems. These systems increase the risk of backflow contamination, especially from antifreeze or other chemicals used in fire suppression systems. As a result of this unique requirement, every home within The Village has been identified as a potential source of contamination by the State of Colorado and is therefore required to be tested annually. Additionally, several homes within The Village also have hot tubs or swimming pools. The State requires backflow prevention devices to be tested annually if the hot tub or swimming pool is permanently connected to the home’s water supply system.

BSI Online will send out annual reminders before your testing due date. You are also encouraged to keep track of your last test date and schedule next year’s test proactively to avoid penalties.

Please contact District staff as soon as possible. In some cases, we may grant a short extension if you can show that testing has been scheduled. However, extensions are not guaranteed, and fines may still apply if compliance is not met within a reasonable timeframe.

Non-compliance will result in fines and may result in water being shut off to your property if not resolved timely. It is the responsibility of the property owner to pay fines due and fees for reconnection of water service. Penalties include:

• 30 days following first written notice of non-compliance: $500 fine.
• 60 days following first written notice of non-compliance: $1,000 fine.
• 90 days following first written notice of non-compliance: potential water shutoff.