Mailing your test reports will only take a few minutes.
Testing requirements for residential customers
Residential customers who have irrigation systems, fire sprinkler systems, or other uses requiring backflow protection will have backflow assemblies protecting our drinking water. You must arrange to have your assembly or assemblies tested at least once a year. You're responsible for arranging for a state-certified contractor to test your assembly.
We prefer that residential customers test their backflow assemblies in the spring before the summer irrigation season. While we don't test assemblies, we do keep a record of where backflow prevention assemblies are installed. We'll mail you a reminder letter each year with sticker labels to give to your backflow tester.
Testing requirements for commercial customers
Commercial buildings will have different types of backflow assemblies to protect our drinking water from a variety of uses, including fire sprinkler systems, irrigation systems, and water collection and reuse systems. You must arrange to have your assembly or assemblies tested at least once a year. It is your responsibility for arranging for a state-certified contractor to test your assembly.
We provide commercial property owners an annual schedule for testing all their assemblies. While we don't test assemblies, we do keep a record of where backflow prevention assemblies are installed. We'll mail you a reminder letter each year with sticker labels to give to your backflow tester.
Sticker label requirements
We include sticker labels with your annual testing reminder letters. These sticker labels have important backflow assembly information we need to process your test reports.
You must provide the sticker labels to your backflow tester when they test your backflow assembly. Your test reports will not be processed if they don't have the Water Bureau-provided sticker label on them.
Submit test reports
Currently, we only accept hardcopy test reports by mail. After testing is complete, your certified backflow tester will put your sticker labels on your report and mail the completed test report to us at:
Portland Water Bureau
Attn: Backflow Assembly Records
1120 SW 5th Avenue, Bldg. B320
Portland, Oregon 97204‐1926
Important: Test reports will not be processed if they do not have the Water Bureau-provided sticker label on them.