Ensuring Safe Drinking Water: Cross Connection and Backflow Control

Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Systems help keep our clean drinking water free of contaminated water.

Worker installing a backflow device in an underground box.

The City of Bend keeps an eye on and enforces rules to prevent unwanted connections to the City’s public water system. Following the Oregon Administrative Rule and City of Bend Code, we require approved backflow assemblies on the water lines entering properties and on irrigation systems. These assemblies need to be maintained and pass annual tests by certified backflow testers, with the results sent to the City of Bend Water Services Department.

Backflow Testing

If you have any questions about backflow installations, certified testers, or approved backflow prevention assemblies, contact the Safe Drinking Water Program at 541-317-3000, ext. 2.

Some properties have more than one backflow device. The backflow device that’s connected to the water meter is owned and tested each year by the City of Bend.
If you have a backflow device on your sprinkler system or if you have commercial property, the City does not provide testing for backflow devices on irrigation systems or commercial properties.

Each year, the City of Bend sends letters to remind customers to test their irrigation backflow devices. This test is required by state and local laws, and it must be done every year.

As the property owner or water customer, you are responsible for:

  • Hiring a certified backflow tester.
  • Making sure the test is completed.
  • Making sure the test results are sent to the City’s Water Services Department.

Most testers will send the results to the City for you, but it’s still your job to make sure it gets done.

View a sample of the letters:

Frequently Asked Questions

Backflow assemblies stop water from flowing backward through irrigation pipes if there’s a loss of pressure. This can happen if a pipe breaks or a fire hydrant is used. The backward flow can pull dirty water into clean drinking water lines, which can be harmful.

Backflow assemblies can break over the winter and should be tested yearly before the irrigation season.

The Water Services customer is responsible for hiring a State-Certified Backflow Tester. If a renter gets the notice and is on the water bill, they are responsible.

Contact one of the testers from this list: Certified Backflow Assembly Testers.
(Tip: Make your appointment early in the irrigation season.)

The due date for your assembly is on the letter sent to you. Your due date could be different from your neighbors. If you have questions, check your letter or call us.

The irrigation backflow is NOT the backflow assembly inside the City of Bend water meter box. The City of Bend Water Services Department owns and maintains that device. The irrigation backflow is somewhere between the meter and your irrigation system, on your private property.

A cross connection is a connection between drinking water and something that can pollute it. For example, attaching a fertilizer sprayer to a garden hose can create a cross connection and possible health hazards.

Backflow is when non-drinking water flows backward into the drinking water system. This can happen if there’s a drop in pressure, like from a water main break or firefighting. There are two types of backflow: backpressure backflow and back-siphonage backflow.

Backpressure backflow is when the downstream pressure is higher than the supply pressure, causing water to flow backward and possibly contaminate clean drinking water pipes.

Back-siphonage is caused by negative pressure in the supply piping. Some common causes are: High velocities in pipelines, line repair or break that is lower than a service point, lowered main pressure due to high water withdrawal, like firefighting or water main flushing, reduced supply pressure on the suction side of a booster pump.

Backflow can happen when there’s a change in water pressure, allowing water to flow backward from a contaminated source to a drinking water supply. This can be caused by things like a water main break or firefighting.

City of Bend’s Cross Connection Control Code requires specific backflow protection assemblies to be installed and tested annually according to plumbing code and Oregon Health Division Rules.

Backflow assemblies must be tested at installation, annually, after repairs, and after relocating. Testing in Oregon must be done by certified backflow testers.

Water that is safe for human consumption, free from harmful materials.

Any water or substance that is not safe for human consumption.

Additional Information and Resources

Testing and Installation

Laws and Regulations

Contacts