Backflow Testing in Fountain Hills, AZ

How often does EPCOR want my assembly tested?

EPCOR serves about 14,500 connections in Fountain Hills and part of Scottsdale through its Chaparral City district, and its Cross Connection Control Department sets the rules. Required assemblies are tested when they are installed, after any repair or relocation, and once a year after that. The test must be done by a certified backflow tester, and the report must reach EPCOR within 30 days. The customer is responsible for installing, maintaining and testing the device. Questions go to 480-450-2077 or [email protected].

Where should the assembly be, and does recycled water matter?

EPCOR asks that assemblies sit within 36 inches of the water meter unless it directs otherwise. If you're replacing an old device that sits far from the meter, ask the plumber whether moving it makes sense. Wastewater here is handled by a separate special district, the Fountain Hills Sanitary District, which also distributes recycled water. Recycled water and drinking water must never be connected. If your property or HOA uses reclaimed water for landscaping, the separation between the two systems is exactly the kind of cross-connection EPCOR's program exists to prevent.

Will the water or the weather wear the device out?

EPCOR's Chaparral City report lists hardness of about 16 grains per gallon, enough to scale check seats and relief valve parts over a few years. Outdoor devices also take strong sun, which dries rubber seals and cracks plastic caps. In winter, a rare freezing night can split a brass body left uncovered. An insulated, shaded cover helps on all three fronts, and a passing test each year catches wear before it turns into a leak.

Local note

New or relocated assemblies go through the Town of Fountain Hills Building Safety, which takes permit applications through its online TOPPS system. The office is on Avenue of the Fountains. When you call through this page, share the date on EPCOR's notice and ask the plumber to send the report straight to EPCOR so it arrives inside the 30-day window. If the device is spraying, close the irrigation valve or main and leave the relief port open.