SPRING STARTUP: IRRIGATION BACKFLOW ASSEMBLIES

Landscape irrigation systems make watering lawns and gardens convenient and save time, yet water that may be contaminated by weed killers, pesticides, animal waste, or fertilizers may backflow (back siphon) into your drinking water.

To protect your drinking water from potential contamination, it is important to have an approved backflow protection assembly/device properly installed on your irrigation system.  It is equally important to be certain the backflow prevention assembly is tested annually to ensure it is functioning properly.  Annual backflow assembly testing is required by the State of Idaho and City of Coeur d’Alene (City) Ordinance.

Irrigation backflow assemblies must be tested annually at spring irrigation startup and no later than July 1 of each calendar year.  This test, performed by a private, state licensed Backflow Assembly Tester, verifies that the backflow prevention assembly is functioning properly.

A lawn irrigation system which is not protected by an approved backflow prevention assembly, or by an assembly that is not functioning correctly, endangers the health of the household, neighborhood, and entire community.

If you have any questions or wish to obtain a list of approved state licensed Backflow Assembly Testers, please contact Gary Alan Nolan at 208-769-2298.

Additional information may be found at www.cdaid.org/backflow