How to Read a Backflow Test Report
How to Read a Backflow Test Report
When a certified backflow tester finishes their work, they hand you — or mail your water utility — a document that looks like a mix of plumbing jargon and spreadsheet data. If you've never seen one before, it's easy to file it away without understanding what it actually says. That's a mistake, because your backflow test report is the official record proving your property protects the public water supply. Knowing how to read it helps you catch errors, respond to failures quickly, and stay ahead of compliance deadlines.
Close-up of a certified backflow tester's clipboard showing a completed test report form with pressure gauge readings, check boxes, and a tester's signature, resting on a commercial mechanical room workbench
What a Backflow Test Report Actually Is
A backflow test report — sometimes called a backflow test form, a test and maintenance report, or a field test report — is the official documentation that a licensed tester submits after inspecting your backflow prevention assembly. Most water utilities require this report to be filed annually. It serves two purposes: it tells the utility whether your assembly passed or failed, and it creates a paper trail protecting you if a contamination event is ever investigated.
Utilities typically accept reports on their own branded forms or on standardized forms published by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) or the USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research. The exact layout varies, but every report covers the same core information.
The Header Section: Device and Location Info
The top portion of every test report identifies what was tested and where. Here's what each field means:
Assembly Type — This tells you the category of backflow preventer installed: Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ), Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA), Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB), or Spill-Resistant Pressure Vacuum Breaker (SVB). The type determines what test procedures apply and what pressure thresholds are acceptable.
Manufacturer, Model, and Serial Number — These tie the report to your specific device. If your report shows a serial number that doesn't match the tag on your assembly, flag it immediately. This is the field most prone to transcription errors.
Size — Listed in inches. A ¾" assembly has different acceptable readings than a 4" assembly.
Location / Service Address — The property address and specific location description (e.g., "mechanical room, east wall" or "irrigation meter, north side of building"). If your water utility tracks multiple assemblies at your property, each one should have its own report.
Meter Number or Account Number — Some utilities cross-reference test reports to your water account. Make sure this matches your bill.
Installation Purpose — This notes what the backflow preventer is protecting against: fire suppression, irrigation, boiler feed, or general service. This context matters when interpreting whether the right assembly type is even installed.
The Test Data Section: Where the Numbers Live
This is the part most property owners skip — and shouldn't. The test data section records the actual pressure readings the tester measured at each check valve or relief valve in your assembly.
Backflow tester in safety glasses using a differential pressure gauge kit connected to a brass reduced pressure zone assembly in an outdoor utility enclosure, with test cocks open and reading gauges visible
Check Valve 1 (CV1) and Check Valve 2 (CV2) — These lines show the differential pressure reading across each check valve, recorded in pounds per square inch (PSI). For a Double Check Valve Assembly, a reading of 1.0 PSI or higher on each check valve typically means a pass. For an RPZ assembly, CV1 needs to hold at least 5.0 PSI.
Relief Valve Opening Point (RPZ assemblies only) — This reading shows the pressure at which the relief valve between the two check valves opened. For a passing result, the relief valve must open at a pressure at least 2.0 PSI below the inlet pressure. If this value isn't met, your RPZ failed — the relief valve isn't functioning as a true backup.
Tightness / Closed Tight — Some forms use a checkbox or notation to indicate whether each check valve held tight during the test. "CT" (closed tight) is passing. Any notation like "leaked," "dripped," or a checkmark next to a failure box requires attention.
Initial vs. Final Readings — Some forms record two readings: one taken before any repair and one after. If you see two columns, the right column (final/repaired) is what counts for compliance.
The Results Section: Pass, Fail, or Repaired and Passed
The results section is the summary. It will typically indicate one of three statuses:
- Passed — The assembly performed within acceptable limits and no action is required beyond filing the report.
- Failed — One or more components did not meet minimum standards. A failed assembly must be repaired or replaced, and a follow-up test report submitted.
- Repaired and Passed (sometimes "Repaired in Field") — The tester identified a failure, performed an approved repair on-site, retested, and the assembly passed on the second test. This is common for simple issues like a fouled check valve. One report covers both the failure and the passing result.
If your report shows "Failed," don't panic — but don't ignore it either. Most utilities give you 30 days to repair and retest. Missing that window can result in fines or a compliance notice.
Tester Certification Information
Every legitimate test report must include the tester's name, certification number, state or certifying body, and certification expiration date. Before you file the report with your utility, verify that the expiration date on the form was current on the date of the test. An expired certification can invalidate the report entirely, forcing you to have the assembly retested.
Property manager in an office reviewing a backflow test report document, comparing it against a laptop screen showing a utility compliance portal, with a pen in hand marking key fields
What to Do After Reading the Report
Once you understand what the report says, here's the action checklist:
- File it. Most utilities accept online submissions, email, or mail. Confirm receipt if the portal gives you a confirmation number — keep that.
- Store a copy. Keep reports for at least three years. In the event of a compliance audit, you'll want a clean paper trail.
- Act on failures immediately. Contact your tester or a licensed plumber the same week. Do not wait for a notice from the utility.
- Verify the tester's license. Cross-check the certification number against your state's database of licensed backflow testers before you submit.
- Update your tracking system. Note the next due date — typically 12 months from the test date — in your property management calendar or compliance software.
A backflow test report is only as useful as your ability to understand it. Once you can read the numbers and know what each section means, you're in a far stronger position to protect your property, your tenants, and the water supply that connects you both.
Sources
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cross-Connection Control Manual. EPA 816-R-03-002. Office of Water, 2003. epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water
American Water Works Association. Manual of Water Supply Practices M14: Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control. 4th ed. AWWA, 2015. awwa.org
USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research. Manual of Cross-Connection Control. 10th ed. University of Southern California, 2009. foundation.usc.edu/projects/ccchr