Water Quality & Backflow Assembly Testing

As your water supplier, the City of Madras takes great care to ensure that the water we provide you with is the highest of quality. As our customer, you also play a role in preserving that quality. Water contamination can occur through an individual plumbing system and it’s important you prevent this from happening at your home.

What is Backflow?

Backflow is when water flows in the opposite direction of the way it is intended or designed to flow through a system which can result in undesirable materials entering your water system. Backflow can occur whenever water pressure is reduced enough to cause a vacuum or "back siphonage." Situations that may cause backflow include water main breaks or shutdowns for repairs, hydrants being opened for flushing or firefighting, undersized piping in your residence, etc. Another form of backflow, called "backpressure," occurs when downstream pressure becomes greater than the supply pressure. Excessive backpressures can be caused by pumps, boilers, and heat exchangers. 

To help prevent water from flowing in reverse and potentially contaminating a community water supply, the Safe Drinking Water Act requires backflow preventers be installed on all residential and commercial water lines. However, there are still some areas you need to exercise additional caution including your yard or garden area. Garden hoses are one of the most common offenders as a cause of backflow. If you water your garden with a fertilizer or pesticide applicator attached to your hose and you leave it attached while tending to another chore, and a drop in water pressure occurs in the supply system, it will cause a vacuum, pulling the pesticide-laced water into your home. The same thing can occur if you leave hoses submerged in buckets, pools, spas/hot tubs, etc. The next time you or your neighbors turn on a faucet, the water could be laced with toxic chemicals. Water pressure drops are not uncommon, so make sure you have a backflow device attached to your hose or don’t use it for anything you wouldn’t want to drink. 

Sprinkler Systems

Lawn and garden irrigation systems can also be a source of backflow water contaminated with garden chemicals and microorganisms into your drinking water. In order to prevent this, building codes require that these systems be protected with a backflow preventer and State Health rules stipulate that they be tested each year. 

Backflow Assembly Testing

To ensure our community’s drinking water remains safe for all, the City of Madras now provides annual backflow testing by a State certified tester (Olsen, LLC) for all of our customers with in-ground sprinkler systems for a very reasonable charge. Olsen,LLC contractors will be out testing  systems seven days a week throughout the summer months. All of these contractors are State certified, identifiable by their clothing and vehicles, and can produce proof of identification. The charge for this service is added to the customer’s regular bill after the service has been performed. This testing will be provided unless the homeowner makes arrangements with the City in advance and can provide a backflow test from a State certified provider within 10 business days after completing the test. 

• If you pay your water bill to the City of Madras and would like your backflow assembly tested more than once per year, please call 541-948-6960. 
• If you pay your water bill to the City of Madras and would like to opt out of the City’s testing program, please call 541-475-2344.
• If you have questions about backflow assemblies, please call 541-948-6960.