Backflow testing in Fairfax County, handled in one visit.
Fairfax Water and Fairfax County run a joint cross-connection program, and the annual notice it sends is routine. We test your device in about 30 minutes, fix it on the spot if it fails, and file the passing report with the county inside its 14-day window.
One visit, paperwork handled
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You’re not in trouble. It’s a yearly requirement, and it’s quick.
Fairfax County’s program, run jointly with Fairfax Water, tracks every testable backflow assembly in the county: irrigation systems, fire suppression lines, pools, and commercial connections. Each one gets tested when it’s installed, after any repair, and once a year after that, under Virginia’s waterworks regulations.
Who gets these notices
Homes with in-ground sprinkler systems, properties with fire sprinkler lines, pools and hot tubs connected to the supply, and just about every commercial meter in Fairfax County. If you have one of those, the annual notice is part of owning it.
The 14-day filing
In Fairfax County the testing company files your passing report with the county within 14 days of the test. We do that filing; you get a copy for your records and the county closes your file.
The way out is easy
One visit. The test takes about 30 minutes, we handle repair or replacement if it fails, and the paperwork is ours to deal with, not yours.
The test, start to finish
Book a window
Online or one call. Tell us how many devices you have and which utility sent the letter; commercial properties with a whole list are welcome.
The 30-minute test
Your tester connects a calibrated gauge, isolates the device for a few minutes, and verifies every check valve and relief valve holds the line.
Pass: report filed
We submit the passing result to your water authority and leave you a copy for your records.
Fail: fixed and retested
Most failures are rebuildable. We quote the fix before we start, repair or replace, retest, and file the passing result.
The number one killer of backflow preventers here is winter. An above-ground PVB that wasn’t drained in the fall can crack from the inside when trapped water freezes. If your sprinkler system skipped winterization last year, book the test now instead of waiting for the notice. How to winterize it.
Backflow testing across Fairfax County
Based in Chantilly, so Fairfax County is home turf. Homes, HOAs, and commercial properties in and around:
Vienna
Reston
Herndon
Chantilly
Centreville
Springfield
Burke
Annandale
Oakton
Great Falls
McLean
Lorton
Clifton
Fairfax Station
Falls Church
Who requires what in Fairfax County
Every program comes from the same Virginia regulation, but each utility runs its own paperwork and deadlines. We work with all of them, and the full Northern Virginia grid is on our main backflow page.
Fairfax Water + Fairfax County
Joint program. Annual testing on irrigation, fire suppression, pools, and other testable assemblies; the testing company files your passing report with the county within 14 days.
Town water systems inside the county
Several towns are supplied by Fairfax Water but administer their own cross-connection paperwork. Tell us which letterhead your notice carries and we file to the right desk.
Neighboring Arlington
Arlington County runs its own inspections instead of annual third-party testing on residential irrigation. If your property is on the county line and you’re unsure, call and we’ll tell you straight.
Fairfax County backflow FAQ
Do I have to test my backflow preventer every year in Fairfax County?
Yes, if the device is testable. Fairfax County and Fairfax Water require a test at installation, after any repair, and annually, under Virginia’s waterworks regulations. The county tracks the due date and sends the notice.
Who files the backflow test report in Fairfax County?
The testing company. The county requires the passing report within 14 days of the test. SwiftPro files it and leaves you a copy.
What happens if I ignore a Fairfax Water backflow notice?
The notices escalate, and the county reserves the same endpoint as every Northern Virginia utility: disconnection of water service until a passing test is on file.
How long does the test take?
About 30 minutes per device. Your water is off for a few of those minutes while the gauge readings are taken, and that’s the whole disruption.
Who is allowed to do the test?
Virginia is strict about this. Since January 1, 2023, the state only accepts tests performed by a certified Backflow Prevention Device Worker, a DPOR tradesman certification, and some counties add their own registration rules on top. A test that doesn’t meet those rules is void and has to be redone.
What if the device fails?
Most failures are rebuildable: worn check springs, debris in a seat, or a body cracked by a hard freeze. We quote the fix before we start, repair or replace it, retest, and handle the paperwork.
What does it cost?
A flat per-device price we quote when you book, no trip-fee surprise. Testing is the inexpensive end of plumbing work; the expensive path is ignoring the notice until the utility acts.
More on backflow, in plain English
Fairfax County backflow, done in one visit.
Book the test before the deadline on your notice and be done with backflow for the year. Homes, commercial properties, HOAs, and multi-device lists across Fairfax County all welcome.
Licensed Class A #2705192276 · Based in Chantilly, serving all of Northern Virginia