Backflow is the reversal of the normal flow of water.  

Backflow is caused by pressure differences, including a sudden drop in water pressure in our public system or when a building’s plumbing system has higher pressure than the public water supply. Both situations can allow water and contaminants from a private plumbing system to reverse flow into a home or building’s plumbing system or the public water supply, potentially contaminating the water for other users.

Installing a backflow prevention device protects plumbing systems and our public water supply by preventing backflow.

All backflow prevention assembly testing in Oregon must be performed by Oregon Health Authority (OHA)-certified Backflow Assembly Tester. Below are links to tester resources, courtesy of the OHA.

• Tester and Specialist Certification

• New Certification

• Renewals

• Training

Backflow Tester List

Oregon Drinking Water Services (DWS) provides a public list of Oregon Health Authority-certified Backflow Assembly Testers. The Hillsboro Water Department provides customers a link to that list as a resource. To be registered on the voluntary list:

1. Be a Certified Backflow Assembly Tester in Oregon.

2. You, or your employer, must have a license from the Construction Contractor's Board (CCB) or Landscape Contractor's Board (LCB).

3. If you meet the two requirements, e-mail cross.connection@state.or.us with your name, tester certification #, LCB or CCB #, and which county you want to be listed in.

Requirement to Submit Backflow Test Reports Online

All approved state certified backflow assembly testers will be required to submit all backflow assembly test reports through the EcosConnect web application in order to be accepted and recorded.

Paper or e-mailed test reports are no longer be accepted, and will be returned to testers for submittal through the web application. 

To set up an account with Ecosconnect, please email the following information to paul@ecosconnect.com.

1. Company name (as you want the world to see it)
2. The name of the person who will be the administrator of the company account and direct phone number
3. Email address to be used as the login name for the administrator account (this can be changed later if necessary)
4. Company mailing address
5. Company phone number
6. Certified tester information (name, certification number, gauge & calibration date)

Once Ecosconnect has this information, they will create a company account and contact you to have you perform your initial login and change your password from the default password.

Questions?

• Call 503-615-6733
• Email
• Visit or send mail to: 
  150 East Main Street, Third Floor,
  Hillsboro, Oregon 97123

The Hillsboro Water Department’s Backflow Prevention & Cross Connection Control Program requires all customers to test their backflow prevention assemblies:

• After initial installation.
• After any repair, replacement, or relocation.
• Each year by a certified backflow assembly tester.

Customers with backflow assemblies required to be tested will receive a yearly reminder letter from the Water Department.

Failure to conduct the required yearly backflow prevention assembly test will result in denial or discontinuation of water service.
The following actions should be taken to ensure compliance each year:

• Contact a State of Oregon approved Certified Backflow Assembly Tester.
• Schedule a test.
• Provide your account number to the tester.
  • Your account number is listed on the reminder to test letter you received from the Hillsboro Water Department as well as on your City of Hillsboro Utility Bill.
  • You can request your account number at 503-681-6163 or by e-mail.
  • Your account number gives testers information about the assembly(s) at your location, such as make, model, and serial number. It does not identify you or provide your contact information.
• Once the test is complete, the certified tester will submit your results to the Water Department through Ecosconnect. The test can also send you a copy of the report.

To confirm that Hillsboro Water has received your backflow test report:

• Call 503-615-6733
• Email Hillsboro Water
• Visit 150 East Main Street, Third Floor, Hillsboro, OR 97123

A cross-connection is any temporary or permanent connection between a public water system or consumer’s potable (i.e., drinking) water system and any source or system containing non-potable water or other substances.

Examples of common cross connection include:

• Hot tubs.
• Auxiliary water systems (wells).
• Hoses submerged in polluted or contaminated water.
• A secondary source of irrigation water (from a well or pond) pumped into an irrigation system directly connected to the drinking water supply system.
• A heating boiler with treatment chemical added to prevent internal corrosion being connected directly to the water supply for make-up water.
• An underground lawn sprinkler system directly connected to the water supply system.
• A fountain or swimming pool directly connected to the water system for filling.  

Cross connections can lead to contamination when a change in pressure within the water supply piping allows the water to flow backwards. This reversal of flow, called backflow, can allow contaminated water to flow back into the supply piping, threatening health and safety.

Although under normal circumstances the city water supply is pressurized to keep water flowing to your tap, unforeseen circumstances (such as the need to fight a fire, or when a water main breaks) can suddenly change the pressure in the supply piping, allowing the water to siphon back from your tap to the city supply.
Backflow prevention devices are installed to protect against cross connection contamination caused by backflow conditions.