Scottsdale Water requires approved backflow assemblies under city plumbing codes, commercial customers must have them tested every year, and all testing, installation, retrofit or replacement must be done by a city-recognized certified backflow tester. For a test, repair or new device, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Scottsdale.
Backflow in Scottsdale
Scottsdale runs its own water and sewer, and Scottsdale Water also serves part of Paradise Valley. Its backflow and cross-connection program mails annual test notices to commercial customers, and it limits all work on assemblies, including testing, installation, retrofits and replacements, to city-recognized certified testers. Questions go to Water Quality at 480-312-5668 or backflowtesting@ScottsdaleAZ.gov. Housing has a median year built around 1990, so plenty of residential irrigation devices are well into middle age. Homes are covered by the city plumbing codes too, so if you have a testable device and no notice, ask Water Quality whether it is tracked.
What to do now
- Read the notice or look at the device. Note the due date, the assembly type and the size stamped on the body.
- Stop any active leak. Close the irrigation valve or the main if water is spraying. Don't cap a relief port.
- Confirm your provider. Most of the city is on Scottsdale Water, but check your bill.
- Book a city-recognized tester. Ask the plumber to confirm they're on Scottsdale's list.
- Plan for a permit if work changes the piping. The city requires a plumbing permit to install, alter or repair lawn sprinkler supply piping; apply through the SPUR online portal or the One Stop Shop at 7447 E. Indian School Road.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Relief port dumping water | Fouled first check or a relief valve seat worn by scale |
| Vent cap spitting when zones start | Worn poppet seal on a pressure vacuum breaker |
| Low pressure in every zone | A partly closed shutoff or debris in the assembly |
| Cracked body or bonnet | Freeze damage or impact |
| Failed test with no visible leak | Check valve not holding pressure |
Scottsdale's own hardness figures vary by area, with the softest water north of Chaparral Road and the hardest south of Indian School Road. Homes in the southern part of the city tend to see more scale inside assemblies.
Cost factors
- Whether the device passes or needs a rebuild and retest
- Assembly type and pipe size
- Replacement when the body is cracked or parts are discontinued
- Permit and inspection for altered sprinkler supply piping
- Number of assemblies on a commercial or HOA site
Backflow Testing questions in Scottsdale
Who is allowed to test my backflow assembly?
Will I get a notice when my test is due?
Do I need a permit to install or replace a backflow preventer?
Why is water spitting out of my backflow device?
More plumbing services in Scottsdale
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