Providing safe drinking water is the highest priority for the City of Savage. We follow strict standards to ensure that the public drinking water supply remains safe. Proper backflow prevention on cross connections can eliminate contaminants from entering our public water supply.

Effective January 23, 2016, the Minnesota Plumbing Code was amended to include new devices. As a property owner in Savage, it is required for you to check to see if you have one or more of these plumbing backflow devices on your property. If you do have any of these devices, you will need to have the devices inspected annually by a certified backflow inspector.

All Reduced Pressure Zone devices (RPZ) must be inspected annually regardless of installation date.

All other devices installed prior to January 23, 2016 are not required to be tested, however it is a good idea to have them inspected and tested. Backflow devices prevent contaminated water from entering the plumbing system in your home. These contaminants can come from your irrigation system, boiler system, or any other process where water contacts a non-potable (not drinkable) source.

Requirements

Here are the requirements for testable devices:

• If you have a Reduced Pressure Zone device (RPZ) you need to have it inspected annually, and the inspection record must be submitted to the City of Savage Utility Division. If the device fails the annual inspection and needs to be rebuilt or replaced, it will require a City plumbing permit and must be installed by a licensed backflow prevention contractor.
• If you have a Pressure Vacuum Breaker device (PVB) that was installed on/after January 23, 2016 you are required to have it inspected annually by a licensed backflow prevention contractor, and the inspection record needs to be submitted to the City of Savage Utility Division. No plumbing permit is required.
• If you have a Pressure Vacuum Breaker device (PVB) that was installed before January 23, 2016 then there is no requirement that you have the device inspected. Your device has been grandfathered into the old plumbing code. If an older device fails and is replaced, it will require a plumbing permit and must be installed by a license backflow prevention contractor. An inspection must be performed annually on the device and the inspection record needs to be submitted to the City of Savage Utility Division.
• The same rules apply to Double Check Valves (DCVA), and Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB) as previously described for PVBs. If they were installed on/after January 23, 2016, they need to be inspected annually. If they are older, the devices are grandfathered into the old plumbing code.

Resources

• Plumbing Permit Application
• Backflow Test Report Form
• Factsheet on Backflow Devices
• List of certified Backflow Prevention contractors
  • Follow the License and Registration Lookup instructions at the top of the page.

If you have any questions about backflow prevention devices, please contact the City of Savage Public Works Utility Division at 952-224-3440.

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