Backflow testing in Miami and Fort Lauderdale

Who has to test in Miami and Fort Lauderdale

The rule depends on the utility that sends your water bill. Each line below is from that utility's own page.

• Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department: Certain backflow prevention assemblies must be tested when installed and every year by a Certified Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester.
• Broward County Water and Wastewater Services: Commercial, institutional and government customers, plus residential or multi family buildings over three stories, must install an assembly at their own cost and have it tested and certified every year.
• City of Fort Lauderdale Public Works: Domestic services the city finds to be a contamination risk need a reduced pressure assembly, tested every year by a licensed backflow technician, for residential and commercial accounts alike.
• City of Pembroke Pines Utilities: Residential connections get a dual check valve owned and installed by the city in the meter box; residents are notified by a door hanger before installation.
• City of Hollywood Public Utilities: All commercial property owners, plus homes with a dedicated irrigation or fire service or a private well or pond intake, must install backflow devices and recertify them every year.

Sources: Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department; Broward County Water and Wastewater Services; City of Fort Lauderdale Public Works; City of Pembroke Pines Utilities; City of Hollywood Public Utilities

How each utility takes the test report

Most utilities here take the report online through a vendor portal; the tester files it. Open a utility for its own deadline, filing steps and fees.

What testing costs in Miami and Fort Lauderdale

These are amounts the utility or a company published on its own page, shown as published, never averaged.

• Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department: A permit fee applies to installing an assembly; the amount is set by the building department of the city where it is installed. Testing prices are set by the companies.

Source: Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department

If the test is missed

• City of Fort Lauderdale Public Works: Customers who do not comply with the testing mandates will have their water service terminated to protect the public water system.
• City of Hollywood Public Utilities: Customers who do not comply will have water service terminated, as FDEP requires.

Sources: City of Fort Lauderdale Public Works; City of Hollywood Public Utilities

Florida rules behind the local programs

State rules set the minimum; the utilities above add their own deadlines and tester registration.

• The rule says each CWS's written plan must specify test frequency, and sets a floor: assemblies required at non-residential service connections (any connection other than a residential one as defined in the rule) are tested after installation or repair and at least annually. The frequency is set inside each CWS's plan but may not be less strict than this floor.
• Assemblies required at residential service connections (two inches or less, building containing only dwelling units, including dedicated irrigation or fire connections) are tested at least every two years, not annually.
• The state requires each CWS's plan to set the frequency, tester qualifications and test procedures, so details differ by utility.

Sources: Florida rule; Florida rule; Florida rule