Backflow Testing in Tempe, AZ

Does Tempe have a backflow program, and does it apply to me?

Yes. The City of Tempe's water report describes a Backflow Prevention Program managed by Environmental Services, with Environmental Compliance Inspectors checking cross-connection control when they inspect a site. The report covers customers in Tempe and Guadalupe. The pages reviewed don't list a testing interval for homes, so if you have a testable assembly on irrigation, a pool or a home business and aren't sure whether it's on a schedule, ask Environmental Services. Restaurants, shops and other businesses are the accounts most likely to see an inspector.

Do I need a permit to replace a backflow device in Tempe?

Possibly. Tempe's homeowner guide to permits says separate plumbing permits are needed when they apply, and that leak repairs are exempt only when they don't involve replacing or rearranging valves, pipes or fixtures. A backflow assembly is a valve assembly, so swapping or moving one is likely to cross that line. The Permit Counter is at City Hall, 31 E. 5th Street, Garden Level, at 480-350-4311. A rebuild that only replaces internal parts is a different job; ask the plumber which applies.

Will Tempe's water affect how long my device lasts?

It can. The city's water report lists hardness from 9.5 to 29 grains per gallon, averaging 10.9, so some parts of the system run much harder than others. Mineral deposits build up on check valve seats and relief valve discs, and that's one of the main reasons an assembly fails a test. Tempe's housing has a median year built around 1983, so many devices around the city may already have been rebuilt more than once. Replacement is often the better call when parts are scarce or the body is pitted.

Local note

Tempe's Water Utilities customer line for water emergencies is 480-350-2837. If a device is gushing, shut the irrigation or main valve first, then call. When you reach a plumber through this page, mention whether an inspector flagged the device, what it serves, and whether the property is in Tempe or Guadalupe, since the city's water report covers both. If the test fails, ask which part failed so you can weigh a rebuild against a new unit.