Backflow Testing in Aurora, CO

Signs you need a backflow visit

• A notice from Aurora Water says your annual test is due or overdue
• Last season's tester marked the assembly as failed and nobody went back to repair it
• Water trickles from the relief valve or a test cock once the irrigation is on
• You bought a home with an in-ground sprinkler system and have no test history for it
• A cold snap caught the device uncovered and now the body or a fitting weeps
• You are finishing a project that needs a certificate of occupancy

How backflow works on Aurora Water

Aurora Water is the city-owned utility for most of Aurora, and its cross-connection control program is written into City Code Section 138-170. The rule puts the duty on the property owner or the billed customer: a required assembly has to pass a test before the city issues a certificate of occupancy, then again at least once every year. The tester has to be a certified cross-connection control technician holding an ASSE or ABPA backflow tester certification, the responsible party pays for the test, and proof has to reach Aurora Water by the annual due date.

The utility's ownership ends at the meter pit. From the pit to the building, the service line is the owner's to maintain, and any assembly on that side is the owner's too. That covers the common sprinkler setups in master-planned neighborhoods out along E-470 as well as older lots in the original Fletcher townsite area. Some newer areas sit inside metro districts, though the sheet notes those still point residents to Aurora Water for water service.

Front Range weather is the other local factor. Freezing nights in fall and spring are hard on brass assemblies that sit above ground, so the yearly test is often paired with a check for freeze damage.

What moves the price

• Test only or test plus repair. A passing annual test is short. A failed check valve or relief valve means parts, labor and a retest.
• Type of assembly. A reduced pressure assembly has more internal parts than a double check or a pressure vacuum breaker.
• Freeze damage. A cracked body usually means replacing the unit rather than rebuilding it.
• Access. Devices buried in landscaping or set in a tight enclosure take longer to reach.
• Permit work. New installs can involve the City of Aurora Building Division.

When you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Aurora. Say whether you need the annual test, a repair after a failed result or a new assembly, and mention the due date on your Aurora Water notice. If the device is leaking hard, close the irrigation shutoff until the plumber arrives.