If you have received a letter from your water utility about a backflow device, you are not alone, it is one of the most common compliance notices Indiana commercial property owners get. Here is what is behind it.
Why backflow prevention matters
Backflow preventers stop water from flowing backward out of your building’s plumbing, fire lines, or irrigation system into the public water supply. Without them, a pressure drop in the water main could siphon contaminants into the drinking water for an entire neighborhood.
What Indiana requires
Under 327 IAC 8-10, Indiana’s cross-connection control rule, commercial backflow prevention assemblies must be tested at least annually by a certified backflow tester, with results submitted to the water utility. Records need to be maintained, and devices protecting against severe hazards can require more frequent testing.
Devices that need testing
- Reduced pressure zone (RPZ) assemblies
- Double check valve assemblies
- Pressure vacuum breakers on irrigation systems
- Backflow preventers on fire sprinkler lines
That last one surprises people: fire line backflow preventers need the same annual test, which is why it pays to coordinate backflow testing with your NFPA 25 sprinkler inspection.
What happens if a device fails
A failed test is not a crisis, it is a repair. Most failures are resolved with a rebuild kit and a retest, then the passing result is refiled with the utility.
Make the letters stop
Sutton Life Safety tests backflow devices across Porter, Lake, and LaPorte Counties, files the paperwork with your utility, and puts your devices on an annual cycle with reminders. Request a quote and cross this one off your list permanently.
