Austin Water Backflow Testing: Rules and Deadlines

Who must test

Annual testing is required for all backflow prevention assemblies on high hazard cross connections, done by a state licensed tester registered with the City of Austin. Source.
Assemblies are typically required on connections with industrial fluids or chemicals, irrigation systems, fertilizers, or auxiliary water sources including reclaimed water, and are subject to annual inspection, testing and reporting. Source.

Customers with registered devices get annual reminders from the Special Services Division. Testing is due by the last day of the due month; a first notice goes out the month before and a second notice in the due month. Source.

Each tester must submit a Test and Maintenance Report for every assembly within five calendar days of the test; since July 25, 2022 reports must be filed online in the WEIRS database and paper is not accepted. Source.

To test in the Austin Water distribution area, a Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester must be licensed by TCEQ and registered with Austin Water. Source.
Registration requires a Water Protection Technician Registration Application, a Backflow Gauge Registration Form, gauge photos, a calibration certificate from the last 12 months, the TCEQ licence and ID, sent by mail or email (no in-person registration). Registration lasts for the TCEQ licence term, up to three years. Source.
Austin Water registration remains in effect for the term of the tester's TCEQ licence, not to exceed three years. Source.

Austin Water links a List of Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers, a WEIRS web report. List: services.austintexas.gov (HTML report; not fetched). Source.

Customers who miss test, maintenance and reporting requirements violate Austin City Code Chapter 15-1, with criminal fines up to $2,000 per offence or civil penalties up to $5,000 per offence; each day may be a separate violation. Source.
Falsified records lead to criminal prosecution; a tester who receives three notices of violation within two years has City of Austin registration suspended for one year. Source.

Read October 6, 2026. Program page: austintexas.gov.