Where protection lives
Lawn irrigation systems
Sprinkler heads sit in soil that carries fertilizer, pet waste and pesticides. When supply pressure drops, an unprotected system can siphon that water backward into the lines your house drinks from.
The protection you will typically see
Backsiphonage protection, most often a vacuum breaker family assembly on residential systems; the water authority assigns the type by degree of hazard.
Who decides
The water authority assigns the required protection by degree of hazard and enforces the test schedule. Requirements vary by jurisdiction; the authority's cross-connection control program is the answer to every "do I have to" question on this page.
What the owner should know
Where irrigation protection is required, testing is typically annual, commonly scheduled after spring startup. The tester tags the assembly and files the report with your water authority.
Seasonal
This application follows the season. In freeze climates the working window compresses hard after spring startup, which is exactly when testers' calendars fill. Book early in the wave, not at the end of it.
Common questions
Why do lawn irrigation systems need backflow protection?
Sprinkler heads sit in soil that carries fertilizer, pet waste and pesticides. When supply pressure drops, an unprotected system can siphon that water backward into the lines your house drinks from.
What kind of backflow preventer is used?
Backsiphonage protection, most often a vacuum breaker family assembly on residential systems; the water authority assigns the type by degree of hazard. The assembly type is assigned by your water authority based on the degree of hazard, not chosen by the property owner.
How often does it get tested?
Testing is typically annual where required, on a schedule set and enforced by the water authority. A certified tester performs the test, tags the assembly, and files the report.
Other places protection lives
| Fire sprinkler systems |
| Boilers and hydronic heating |
| Restaurants and commercial kitchens |
| Apartment and multifamily buildings |
| Medical and dental facilities |
| Car washes |
The three-year clock sheet
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