What a failed backflow test actually means
A backflow preventer is the brass assembly, usually near the irrigation meter, that stops sprinkler water from flowing back into the drinking water supply. Irrigation water picks up fertilizer, soil and whatever else is in the landscape, so that one-way protection matters.
During the test, a certified tester checks whether the assembly's internal parts are holding pressure the way they should. A failure means at least one part isn't doing its job. It does not mean anything has contaminated the water. It means the protection isn't reliable until it's fixed.
Most failures come down to ordinary wear: checks, springs, seals and relief valve parts that have been working hard in Valley heat for years. Less often, the assembly is cracked, corroded or simply too old to keep repairing.
Why the rules are strict
Under Arizona's backflow rule (A.A.C. R18-4-215), backflow assemblies must be tested at least once a year, and again after they're installed, moved or repaired, by a certified tester. Valley cities run their own backflow programs on top of that, send notices when tests are due, and can enforce overdue tests, up to shutting off water service.
For a property manager, that means a failed test isn't something to park until next budget cycle. Read your notice for the deadline that applies to you, and get the repair scheduled.
Step 1: Read the test report
The tester's report is the most useful document you have. It usually shows which part of the assembly failed, which tells the repair crew what to bring and whether a rebuild is likely to work.
- Find the assembly's make, model, size and location on the report
- Note which check or valve failed
- Look for any deadline or reference number on the city's notice
- Send both to whoever is making the repair
Keep a simple log of every assembly on the property: location, size, test dates and repairs. On a large HOA or business park with several assemblies, it saves real time every year.
Step 2: Get the repair scheduled
Here's a point that confuses a lot of people: the company that tests your backflow and the company that repairs it are often not the same. Pro Turf doesn't do annual testing. Annual tests must be done by a certified tester registered with your water provider. We're the crew that fixes what the test finds.
Our backflow repair and installation service covers repairs after a failed test, rebuilds with new internal parts, replacement of worn-out or obsolete assemblies, and replacement after theft or freeze damage. Because the backflow is part of the irrigation system, we often handle related irrigation repairs in the same visit.
Repairs mean the water to the irrigation system is off for a while, so we schedule around residents and tenants and keep the shutoff as short as possible.
Rebuild or replace?
This is the main decision, and it should come with a clear explanation and a clear price before any work starts.
- Rebuild usually makes sense for a newer assembly in good shape, where worn checks, springs or seals are the problem
- Replace usually makes sense for old, corroded, freeze-damaged or discontinued assemblies, where parts are hard to find or the body itself is damaged
- Upgrade is worth considering when the assembly is undersized or outdated for a system that has been renovated or expanded
Some cities require a permit to install or replace an assembly, so ask about it up front. A replacement that stalls waiting on paperwork is the slow way to get back in compliance.
Step 3: Retest and file the passing results
A repair doesn't close out the notice. Arizona's rule requires a retest after any repair, and the passing results have to reach your water provider. We coordinate the timing with your certified tester so the retest happens right after the work, not weeks later.
Ask for a written record of every repair and keep it with your test reports. It makes next year's notice, a board question or a vendor audit much easier to answer.
How Mesa, Gilbert and Tempe handle it
The state rule sets the baseline, but each city runs its own program. Three we work in often:
- Mesa: only testers recognized by the city can perform tests, and after a repair the assembly must be retested right away and the results submitted. Installing an assembly requires a permit. Details are on the City of Mesa backflow page and our Mesa backflow repair page.
- Gilbert: the town's program covers commercial water users, with containment assemblies at the meter and internal assemblies where the town sees a contamination risk. See the Town of Gilbert backflow page and our Gilbert backflow repair page. Our office is in Gilbert, so we're never far away.
- Tempe: tests are due every year on the anniversary of the first test, the city mails a notice 45 days ahead, and owners are asked to keep test and repair records for at least three years. See the City of Tempe backflow program and our Tempe backflow repair page.
In any other Valley city, the notice from your water provider is the best guide to what's required and by when.
How to avoid the next surprise
- Watch for theft. Brass assemblies are a target. If one goes missing, call your water provider and your repair crew. Tempe, for example, requires a permit and the same type of assembly for a replacement.
- Plan for the occasional hard freeze. A cold night can crack an unprotected assembly. The cool-season notes in our Phoenix commercial landscape calendar are a good reminder to check it.
- Have crews keep an eye on it. Regular maintenance visits can flag damage, leaks or a missing device before the next test does.
- Budget for it. On properties with older assemblies, set aside money for rebuilds and replacements instead of treating each failure as a surprise.
Boards managing several assemblies across a community can find more on how we support HOA communities.
Failed test? Send us the report
Pro Turf repairs, rebuilds and replaces irrigation backflow assemblies for HOAs, apartment communities and commercial properties across Greater Phoenix. We're licensed, bonded and insured (AZ ROC #162171) and offer 24/7 support. Contact Pro Turf with your test report or city notice, and we'll tell you whether to rebuild or replace, with a clear price, and coordinate the retest.
