Texas Backflow Testing Requirements by City: Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington & More
Backflow testing rules vary from city to city across Texas. Here's a breakdown of what Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, and other major cities require so you stay compliant.
If you own property in Texas — whether it's a commercial building, a multi-family complex, or even a home with an irrigation system — there's a good chance you're required to have your backflow preventer tested every year. But here's the thing that trips people up: the specific rules, deadlines, and enforcement vary from city to city.
We're 1-A Services, a family-owned backflow testing company based in Boyd, TX. We test backflow devices across the entire DFW Metroplex and beyond, and we've seen firsthand how confusing it can be when you own properties in multiple cities. Each municipality has its own water utility, its own compliance department, and its own way of doing things.
Let's break it down city by city so you know exactly what's expected where your property sits.
The Baseline: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
Before we get into individual cities, it helps to understand the state-level requirement. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) sets the foundation through Title 30 of the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 290. Under these rules, any public water system must implement a cross-connection control program. That means if your property has a backflow prevention assembly — and many do — it must be tested annually by a licensed tester.
Cities then build on top of this baseline with their own ordinances, deadlines, and notification processes. Some are stricter than others. Some are more aggressive about enforcement. Here's how it shakes out in the major metros we serve.
Dallas
Dallas Water Utilities runs one of the more organized backflow compliance programs in Texas. If you have a backflow preventer on your property, you'll receive a notification letter — usually around 30 to 60 days before your test is due. The city requires annual testing, and you typically have about 30 days from the notice date to get your test completed and the report submitted.
Dallas uses an online portal for test report submissions. Your licensed tester (that's us) fills out the report and submits it directly. If you miss the deadline, Dallas will send follow-up notices, and eventually, they can shut off your water service. We've seen it happen — don't let it get to that point.
Dallas also requires backflow devices on all commercial properties, irrigation systems, fire lines, and any property where there's a potential cross-connection hazard.
Fort Worth
Fort Worth Water follows a similar annual testing requirement, but their notification and tracking system works a bit differently. Fort Worth sends out compliance letters and gives property owners a window to get their testing done. They've been tightening enforcement in recent years, so if you've been skating by without testing, that's not going to fly much longer.
One thing we see in Fort Worth is a lot of older commercial properties with backflow devices that haven't been tested in years. If that's your situation, don't panic — just get it tested now. We can help you get back into compliance and set up a schedule going forward.
Fort Worth requires RPZ (Reduced Pressure Zone) assemblies on high-hazard connections like fire lines and chemical feed systems, and double check valve assemblies on lower-hazard connections like irrigation.
Arlington
Arlington Water Utilities has a well-established cross-connection control program. They require annual testing of all backflow prevention assemblies and send notification letters to property owners when tests are due. Arlington is known for being fairly strict about follow-up — if you don't respond to the initial notice, expect a second notice followed by potential water disconnection.
Arlington also requires that any new construction or remodel that involves a potential cross-connection must have an approved backflow device installed before the water meter is set. If you're building or renovating in Arlington, make sure your plumber or contractor accounts for this.
Plano
Plano has one of the more proactive cross-connection control programs in the Metroplex. The city sends annual test reminders and tracks compliance closely. Plano requires backflow testing on commercial properties, irrigation systems, fire sprinkler systems, and any residential property with a potential cross-connection.
What sets Plano apart is their responsiveness. If you have questions about whether your property needs a backflow device or when your test is due, their water department is generally helpful and easy to reach. That said, they're also quick to enforce — non-compliance can result in fines and water service interruption.
Irving
Irving Water Utilities requires annual backflow testing and has been expanding their compliance program over the past several years. If you own commercial property in Irving, you should expect to receive annual test notifications. Irving tracks devices by address and meter number, so if you've recently purchased a property, make sure the backflow device records are transferred to your name.
Irving also requires backflow protection on all fire line connections, which means if your building has a fire sprinkler system, you've got a backflow device that needs annual testing — no exceptions.
Frisco
Frisco is one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas, and their cross-connection control program has grown with it. The city requires annual testing on all backflow assemblies and sends notification letters to property owners. Given the amount of new construction in Frisco, there are a lot of newly installed backflow devices coming online every year.
If you're a builder or developer in Frisco, pay close attention to the backflow requirements during the permitting process. Frisco requires approved backflow devices on irrigation systems, fire lines, and commercial water services. Getting this right during construction saves you headaches later.
Denton
Denton's cross-connection control program requires annual testing of all backflow prevention assemblies. The city sends out notices and tracks compliance through their water utility department. Denton has a mix of commercial, residential, and university-related properties, so the types of backflow devices in use vary widely.
One thing to note about Denton: they require that test reports be submitted by a licensed backflow tester within a specific timeframe. Late submissions can trigger follow-up enforcement actions.
McKinney, Garland, Grand Prairie, and Mesquite
These cities all follow the TCEQ baseline requirements and have their own cross-connection control programs. Annual testing is required across the board. The specifics of notification timelines and enforcement vary, but the bottom line is the same: if you have a backflow device, it needs to be tested every year by a licensed professional.
McKinney, like Frisco, has seen rapid growth and a corresponding increase in backflow devices that need tracking. Garland and Mesquite have mature programs with established enforcement. Grand Prairie falls somewhere in between, with a solid program that's been expanding as the city grows.
Austin, Houston, and San Antonio
Outside the DFW Metroplex, the big three — Austin, Houston, and San Antonio — all have robust cross-connection control programs. Austin Water requires annual testing and has an online submission system. Houston's program is managed through the city's Public Works department and covers a massive service area. San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has one of the most well-known programs in the state, with clear guidelines and consistent enforcement.
We serve properties across Texas, so if you've got backflow devices in any of these cities, we can handle the testing and report submission for you.
What Happens If You Don't Comply?
The consequences of non-compliance are pretty consistent across Texas cities:
- Warning notices — usually one or two before any action is taken
- Fines — some cities impose daily fines for non-compliance
- Water service disconnection — this is the big one, and yes, cities will do it
- Legal liability — if a backflow event contaminates the water supply and your device wasn't tested, you could be held responsible
How 1-A Services Makes It Easy
We handle backflow testing across all of these cities and more. When you work with us, we take care of the testing, the paperwork, and the report submission. We know the requirements for each city, we know the submission portals, and we know the deadlines. You don't have to figure any of it out yourself.
We're a family business, and we treat every customer like a neighbor. Whether you've got one device at a single location or fifty devices spread across multiple cities, we'll keep you compliant and give you one less thing to worry about.
Give us a call or request a quote online. We'll get your testing scheduled and make sure every city on your list is covered.
