Step 1: You

What you need to know

Backflow is when water or other liquids flow from a property back into their water supply, or from a property into the community’s water supply. When this happens, contamination from the building’s pipes can cause harm to people who drink our water. This could be present as odour and colour in the water, or cause illness or even death, depending on the contaminants present.

A backflow prevention device contains non-return valves that physically stop backflow from entering the public water supply system.

All property owners have a responsibility to manage backflow within their property. Under the Water Services Act and Council’s Water Supply Bylaw, the owners of all commercial properties must have an appropriate backflow prevention device in place at the property boundary to help manage and limit the risk of backflow across the city.

A survey must be completed by an Independently Qualified Person (IQP) to determine the level of risk associated with the property, and high-risk properties, as assessed by the backflow surveyor and Council, will require a Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) device. Other properties will require a testable double check valve.

All boundary backflow devices for commercial properties need to be registered with Council. This is a requirement of the Taumata Arowai Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules, and our own Backflow Prevention Programme.

To register your backflow device, you will need:

  • The most recent backflow survey completed for your property (this can be in the last five years if there have been no changes to activities carried out on the property).
  • The most recent test report, dated within the last year.
  • The details of the owner and/or occupier of the building or the property, and the backflow device. These details can be found on the test report. It is important that these details are correct.

Fees you might expect

Backflow
Backflow prevention device registration $95.00

Device compliance schedule

Backflow survey by an IQP to assess the level of risk attached to the property Once every five years, or earlier if there is a change in activity at the property
Testing of the backflow device by an IQP Yearly
Maintenance of the backflow device by an IQP As required

Step 2: You

Submit your registration

Application type

Are you the property owner?

Backflow containment device information

Devices are required to be tested upon installation, and annually thereafter, by an IQP. Test reports must be submitted to Council. This is in addition to your responsibilities to provide information under your Building Warrant of Fitness.

Please ensure you supply the following documents with your application:

  • Backflow survey (survey's may be up to five years old if no changes in use have occurred
  • The latest backflow device test report
  • Images of the location of the device (optional)
Max file size: 300 MB; Allowed extensions: pdf,doc,docx,jpg,jpeg,png

Step 3: Council

What to expect

Our team will check the information provided. If all information is provided and current, they will register the device into Council’s Registered Backflow Device database and confirm with you by email that your registration has been successfully completed. If more information is required or information is missing from your application, they will be in touch.

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Last updated 10 May 2024