Backflow Testing in Conifer, CO

Does anyone require backflow testing in Conifer?

For most homes, no utility does. Conifer is an unincorporated foothills community along US 285, almost entirely single-family homes, and Jefferson County says water in its mountain areas is generally supplied by private wells. The exception is the Village at Conifer commercial area around the Aspen Park Shopping Center, which gets water, wastewater and stormwater service from Aspen Park Metropolitan District. We didn't find that district's backflow program, so businesses there should ask the district directly.

Why should a well owner care about backflow?

Because the well is your water supply, and nobody else is watching it. Jefferson County makes homeowners responsible for testing and keeping their well water free of pathogens and pollutants, and recommends testing seasonally and after pump or well work. A hose left in a stock tank, a garden sprayer or a pond fill line can pull dirty water back into the house plumbing if the pressure tank drops or a pipe drains. The county also recommends keeping the well casing sealed and extended above ground, which works hand in hand with protecting connections at the house.

What protection makes sense on a Conifer property?

A hose bib vacuum breaker on every outdoor spigot is the starting point. Frost-free yard hydrants should have built-in backflow protection. Tank and trough fills work best with an air gap, where the hose ends above the water line. Any irrigation or chemical injection system calls for a testable device such as a pressure vacuum breaker or a reduced pressure assembly. Permits for plumbing work go through Jefferson County Building Safety at 303-271-8260.

When you call, describe how water is used outside: spigots, hydrants, tank fills, ponds or a sprayer. A plumber can walk the property, show you each spot where well water could meet something else, and fit the right device at each one.

Local note

At around 8,262 feet, Conifer's winters are long, and outdoor devices freeze readily. Disconnect hoses before cold nights so vacuum breakers drain, and check hydrants each spring. If a well test ever comes back with bacteria after outdoor work, a backflow path is worth ruling out.