Backflow Testing in Nederland, CO

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who serves Nederland. If the Town sent a Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention Control Questionnaire, have it with you; the plumber can help you identify what's connected and whether a preventer is installed on the main service line. If a device leaks, froze or needs replacing, describe where it is. Nederland meters are often inside the home, so the plumber may look near the meter for the main-line device.

What affects the cost

• Adding protection. Installing a preventer where none exists costs more than servicing one.
• Location indoors. Crawlspaces and tight utility closets take longer to work in.
• Freeze damage. High elevation means more cracked devices.
• Equipment involved. Boilers, fire sprinklers and commercial kitchen equipment may need higher-grade assemblies.
• Permits. The Town's Building, Planning and Zoning Department issues permits.

Nederland's water system

Nederland sits at about 8,235 feet where SH 119 meets the Peak to Peak Highway. The Town runs its own water system, drawing from Middle Boulder Creek, treating it at a town plant and disinfecting with chlorine. Its Water Department's cross-connection work centers on that questionnaire: facilities report how they use water, including food preparation, heating and cooling equipment, fire sprinklers and irrigation, and whether there's a backflow preventer on the main line. Questions go to the Utilities Supervisor at 303-258-3266 ext. 4010. The document we reviewed doesn't state a test interval or tester rule, so ask.

Local plumbing quirks matter here. Nederland's meters typically sit inside the home, in a crawlspace, basement, utility closet near the water heater or under the kitchen sink, and customers maintain the meter and reader. At this elevation, freeze protection is a constant concern, and any device in an unheated space is at risk.

Replacement water heaters and furnaces are One-Stop permits that the Town often issues the same day. If a backflow preventer on the main line is replaced, ask the plumber to check whether the water heater needs an expansion tank, since a closed system can push the heater's relief valve to drip. The Town's meter network also watches for unusual use, so a leaking device may show up there first.

Before the plumber arrives

• Have the Town's questionnaire if you received one
• Know where your meter is inside the house
• List water-using equipment: boiler, sprinklers, kitchen gear
• Clear access to crawlspaces or closets