Backflow testing in Portland

Who has to test in Portland

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

• Portland Water Bureau: Backflow prevention assemblies must be tested each year by a state-certified backflow assembly tester, and the property owner is responsible for scheduling the test.
• City of Beaverton: Backflow prevention assemblies must be tested at installation, when repaired or moved, after any backflow incident, and at least annually thereafter, by a State-certified Backflow Tester.
• City of Gresham: Each backflow assembly must be tested first on installation and then once a year.
• Rockwood PUD: Just under 1,400 of 13,200 service connections are regulated; those customers must install approved assemblies, test annually, and certify to the District that devices work.
• Lake Oswego: Homes and businesses with connections such as irrigation, hot tubs, pools, or private wells must have a backflow prevention device that is tested once a year by a certified tester.
• Clackamas River Water: Backflow prevention assemblies must be tested at least annually by a State certified tester; cross connections include lawn sprinklers, fire sprinklers, and auxiliary private water systems.

Sources: Portland Water Bureau; City of Beaverton; City of Gresham; Rockwood PUD; Lake Oswego; Clackamas River Water

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 Portland

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

• Portland Water Bureau: Installations must be inspected by a Portland Water Bureau Water Quality Inspector, and a backflow inspection fee must be paid.
• City of Gresham: All customers required by state law to have backflow assemblies pay a charge for each assembly to cover administration of the state-mandated cross connection program; the fee is set by council resolution (amount not stated in the code).
• City of Gresham: A customer may ask the city to perform the annual inspection and test and pays a fee per assembly tested, set by council resolution.
• Oak Lodge Water Services, Oak Grove / Milwaukie area: Oak Lodge Water Services base backflow test fee, $35 (date not shown).
• Oak Lodge Water Services, Oak Grove / Milwaukie area: Oak Lodge Water Services late fee for missing backflow test report, $30 (date not shown).
• Accurate Backflow Testing, Forest Grove: Accurate Backflow Testing residential test, Forest Grove and Cornelius, $49 (date not shown).
• Accurate Backflow Testing, Forest Grove: Accurate Backflow Testing fireline and bypass test, Forest Grove and Cornelius, $80 (date not shown).
• Bruton Backflow & Irrigation, Portland metro area: Bruton Backflow standard single assembly test (2 inch or smaller), $55.00 (date not shown).
• Bruton Backflow & Irrigation, Portland metro area: Bruton Backflow large assembly test (over 2 inch), $100.00 (date not shown).

Sources: Portland Water Bureau; City of Gresham; City of Gresham; Oak Lodge Water Services, Oak Grove / Milwaukie area; Oak Lodge Water Services, Oak Grove / Milwaukie area; Accurate Backflow Testing, Forest Grove; Accurate Backflow Testing, Forest Grove; Bruton Backflow & Irrigation, Portland metro area; Bruton Backflow & Irrigation, Portland metro area

If the test is missed

• Portland Water Bureau: If an owner refuses to install, test, or maintain a required assembly, or to comply with a correction notice, the Portland Water Bureau may shut off water service without further notice.
• City of Gresham: The city shall discontinue water service to any premises if a required backflow prevention assembly is not installed, tested, and maintained.
• Rockwood PUD: Rockwood Water PUD may discontinue water service for failure to install or test a required backflow assembly under OAR 333-061-0070.
• Clackamas River Water: As needed, CRW contracts a State of Oregon certified tester or repair company to bring the assembly into compliance, and the customer pays those costs plus overhead. Fines, penalties, or termination of service may also be used.

Sources: Portland Water Bureau; City of Gresham; Rockwood PUD; Clackamas River Water