Lafayette requires non-single-family residential and commercial accounts to have each backflow assembly tested every year by an ABPA or ASSE certified tester, with passing results filed on BSI Online by May 31 for irrigation and August 31 for domestic and fire assemblies. For a test, repair or retest, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lafayette.
Lafayette's backflow program
The City of Lafayette runs its own water utility, drawing surface water from Baseline, Waneka and Goose Haven reservoirs. Its Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control Program, administered through BSI Online, covers non-single-family residential and commercial accounts. Each assembly is tested once a year by an ABPA or ASSE certified tester; fire sprinkler assemblies also need a Colorado Fire Suppression System Contractor-Backflow certification. The deadlines are split: irrigation assemblies by May 31, domestic containment and fire assemblies by August 31. A failed test has to be reported within 24 hours, and the assembly repaired and retested within five days. Missed deadlines can mean a water shutoff.
What to do now
- Sort assemblies by deadline. Irrigation first, then domestic and fire.
- Check certifications. Fire assemblies need the extra state backflow certification.
- Schedule early. Leave room inside the five-day repair window.
- Clear access. Open vaults, boxes and mechanical rooms.
- Keep BSI info handy. BSI customer support is 888-966-6050.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Irrigation assembly leaks at spring start-up | Freeze damage from winter |
| Relief valve discharging on a domestic RP | Fouled first check or pressure swings |
| Test fails on check 2 | Worn rubber or debris on the seat |
| Test cocks drip | Worn ball valve seals |
Cost factors
- Number of assemblies. HOAs and commercial sites often have several, each with its own report.
- Fire assemblies. These need a specially certified tester.
- Repairs on a deadline. The five-day window can make a quick repair the practical choice.
- Freeze damage. Replacement rather than rebuild.
- Access. Vaults and tight rooms add setup time.
The meter pit is the dividing line in Lafayette: the City owns the line to the pit, and the owner owns everything from there to the building. Single-family homes aren't in the annual program, but their sprinkler devices still freeze along Coal Creek and around Waneka Lake. For after-hours water main breaks, the City directs residents to Boulder County Dispatch at 303-441-4444.
HOA boards and property managers should keep a simple list of every assembly, its deadline category and its last result. With two deadlines a year and a tight repair window, a list keeps a single missed irrigation device from triggering a shutoff notice for a whole complex.
Backflow Testing questions in Lafayette
Is there a due date for the yearly test report?
What happens after an assembly fails its test?
Can the utility shut off my water over a missed backflow test?
Who is qualified to run the test on my assembly?
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