Short answer: Testable backflow prevention devices must be tested after installation and then every year by an accredited tester, under the rules of the local water authority. Because the test comes round every year, a plumbing business that records each device and sends a reminder before the due date can turn a one-off compliance job into reliable repeat work.
Why the annual test exists
A backflow prevention device stops contaminated water flowing back into the drinking water supply. Cafes, medical practices, factories, properties with irrigation or fire services, and many commercial sites have them.
Water authorities set the testing rules for their area. Hunter Water, for example, says a testable device must be tested after installation and then yearly by an accredited tester, and registered with it. Yarra Valley Water describes yearly testing of registered devices as its own requirement, grounded in AS/NZS 3500 and AS/NZS 2845.1. Field testing and maintenance of testable devices is covered by AS/NZS 2845.3.
The rules differ by water authority, so always check the requirements for the property you are working on.
Why it is good work for a plumbing business
Annual backflow testing has three things most plumbing work does not:
- It is predictable. You know the month each device is due, a year in advance.
- It repeats. The same device needs testing next year, and the year after.
- It opens doors. A test visit is a chance to look at the rest of the site’s plumbing, with the customer’s permission.
The catch is that a test due once a year is easy to forget. A busy cafe owner is not counting the months, so a timely reminder from the plumber who knows the device makes it easy for them to book.
The reminder system, step by step
You do not need a complicated system. You need four pieces of information on each device, and a reminder that fires on time.
1. Record the device properly
For every testable device you install or test, record:
- the site address and the customer;
- the device type, size and location on site;
- the date of the last test; and
- the date the next test is due.
2. Set the reminder before the due date
A reminder about 30 days before the due date gives the customer time to book, and gives you time to fit the visit into a run of nearby jobs. A second, shorter reminder close to the date catches anyone who did not reply.
3. Make booking one tap
The reminder should include a link to book a time, so the customer does not have to call. Replies and bookings should land in the same place as the rest of your enquiries.
4. Close the loop after the test
After the test, update the device record with the new test date and next due date, and send the invoice. The accredited tester lodges the results with the water authority as required. The next reminder is now scheduled automatically.
How LYD Plumber sets this up
LYD Plumber is built for exactly this kind of recurring work.
- Device records. Custom fields on each property hold the device details, last test date and next due date.
- Automatic reminders. A workflow sends a text and email before each due date, in your business name, with a link to book.
- Booking and follow-up. Bookings go into your calendar; replies land in one inbox; customers who do not respond get a follow-up.
- Get paid on site. Invoices can be paid by card from a text link, with automatic payment reminders.
The same pattern works for other recurring plumbing work, such as hot water servicing and thermostatic mixing valve servicing where your clients need it.
LYD Plumber keeps the records and sends the reminders. It does not lodge test results with the water authority; that stays with the accredited tester.
Common gaps in a reminder system
A few small gaps stop reminder systems working:
- Recording the customer but not the device. One site can have several devices, each with its own due date. Record each one.
- Reminding too late. A reminder on the due date leaves no time to book. Send the first one weeks ahead.
- Tying the record to a person, not a property. Businesses change hands and tenants move. Keep the device on the property record so the next owner or tenant can be contacted.
- Forgetting to roll the date forward. If the next due date is not updated after the test, next year’s reminder fires at the wrong time.
Where to start
If you already test backflow devices, start with the customers you tested in the last 12 months. Add their devices and next due dates, and switch on the reminder. Next year’s tests are then booked by the system, not by memory.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Check the requirements of the water authority for each property.
To see device reminders working on a real account, book a free demo or start a 30-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
- Testable devices are tested after installation and then every year by an accredited tester, under the rules of the local water authority. Check the requirements of the water authority that covers the property.
- Field testing and maintenance of testable devices is covered by AS/NZS 2845.3. Check Standards Australia for the current edition.
- Each water authority sets out who must arrange and pay for the test, so check its rules for the property. Either way, a reminder from the plumber who installed or last tested the device helps the customer keep track.
- No. It reminds the customer and your team, and keeps the device details and due dates. The accredited tester lodges the results as the water authority requires.
Sources
- Hunter Water: backflow device registration and testing
- Yarra Valley Water: backflow prevention
- Australian Building Codes Board: AS/NZS 2845.1 reference
General information only, not legal advice. Sources were checked when this article was published; rules change, so check with the regulator before relying on a figure.