Backflow Testing Program
Program Guidelines
The City of Sugar Land has established a Backflow Testing Program to help assure that backflow prevention devices protecting the City water system from potential health hazards are tested annually. The program requires that property owners (primarily industrial and commercial) are responsible for maintaining backflow prevention devices in good working order and providing annual test reports as proof of compliance.
Customers
The City of Sugar Land Water Utilities Department has an annual test requirement for backflow prevention devices that protect the public water supply from contamination by health hazards. For general information about backflow please prevention click on the links provided at the bottom of the page. Backflow testing is the backflow owner’s responsibility and is paid for by the owner. Owners may choose testers or testing companies to perform annual backflow testing that meet the following requirements:
- The tester used must be currently licensed by TCEQ.
- The pressure gauge used by the tester must be within the expiration period for annual calibration.
- Backflow devices on firelines must be tested by a state licensed backflow tester employed by a fireline testing company. (Many fireline testing companies will also test backflows or irrigation and domestic lines).
Records
The City of Sugar Land uses a vendor, to keep electronic records of backflow testing information. Backflow test reports and tester licensing and gauge information are entered by testers or testing company representatives on line via the Internet in the BSI database. BSI sends testing due and overdue notices to customers with the last tester of record listed on the letter as a convenience. Testing is due on the same date every month and not a year from the last test date.
For an up to date list of companies and testers registered to do online entry of test reports through BSI please contact BSI:
Backflow Solutions, Inc.
P.O. Box 246
Worth, IL, 60482
Fx: 888-414-4990
Ph: 800-414-4990
Enforcement
Failure of an owner to have annual backflow testing performed and reported to the City will result in escalated enforcement measures that may include termination of water service per City Ordinance. Property owners may delegate testing activities to tenants, site managers, or property managers; however, the property owner is responsible and will be held accountable for compliance in enforcement proceedings. Correspondence and enforcement notifications will be addressed to the party receiving the water bill for the address with the noncompliance.
Please remind your testing company to adhere to the following procedures when submitting backflow assembly test reports.
Testers & Testing Companies
All backflow assembly test reports for existing and replacement backflow devices must be submitted via the BSI Online backflow tracking system.
- All testing companies are required to submit test reports within 48 hours of test date. Failure to do so will result in enforcement notification of the customer regarding the noncompliant status of their device. If not entered online the ultimate escalation of enforcement is termination of customer water service.
- Please remember to obtain the Customer Confirmation Number from your customer located at the top of the reminder or overdue letter received. This number is needed by the backflow tester in order to access records in the BSI Online system. If the number is lost or unknown please contact BSI.
Support
If you have questions that cannot be answered by the contractor, please contact the Public Works Department at 281-275-2450 or by email.