Backflow Testing Melbourne:
Test Due?
Call 0413 522 220 · BPC compliance certificate issued
Backflow device due for its annual test, or need a compliance certificate?
Yes, backflow prevention devices in Melbourne can be tested, with results lodged with your water authority and a BPC compliance certificate issued.
Call 0413 522 220 and talk it through. You get the options and an honest opinion.
Who can test backflow devices in Melbourne?
Only a licensed plumber holding the BPC specialist endorsement in backflow prevention can test backflow devices in Victoria. Drain Solutions holds that endorsement, and the licence holder does the testing himself.
We carry out annual backflow testing, RPZ valve testing, device installation, repairs and compliance reporting for commercial, industrial and institutional properties across Melbourne. We handle the test, the BPC compliance certificate and the report to Yarra Valley Water, South East Water or Greater Western Water, and remind you before the next test is due.
You are not dealing with a company that sends an outside crew or a junior plumber supervised from somewhere else. You deal with the licensed specialist directly, not a dispatcher. Based in Kew East, with 40+ years on Melbourne's commercial and institutional plumbing. Written quote before work starts. BPC Licence No. 21741. Call 0413 522 220.
What should I do if I get a backflow testing letter from my water authority?
Book a test with a BPC licensed backflow tester before the date on the letter. Drain Solutions can test the device and lodge the results with your water authority for you.
A notice from Yarra Valley Water, South East Water or Greater Western Water means a testable backflow device has been recorded at your property and must be tested and reported, usually within a set time. Ignoring it can lead to fines or disconnection. For a school, hospital, hotel or office building, that is an immediate problem. Call 0413 522 220 and we will confirm what is needed, book the test and lodge the report. If you are not sure how many devices you have, we can audit the site first.
Why is backflow testing required in Victoria?
Backflow testing is required because a failed device can let contaminated water flow back into the drinking water supply, so every testable device must be checked at least once a year.
Backflow happens when mains pressure drops, for example when the fire brigade draws water from a hydrant, or when a pump creates suction. Water from irrigation, fire services, industrial equipment or commercial processes can then flow back into the public supply. This creates a serious contamination risk for the entire supply network, not just the individual property.
Seals wear, springs lose tension and parts fail over time, so a device that has not been tested may not be protecting anything. Testing is required under the Plumbing Code of Australia, AS/NZS 3500.1 and your local water authority's requirements, and is carried out to AS/NZS 2845.3. The 12-month interval is set by the BPC and enforced by your water authority. Missing a test, or leaving a failed device after a water authority notice, can lead to disconnection.
Which properties need annual backflow testing?
Any property with a testable backflow prevention device needs it tested every year, most commonly schools, hospitals, aged care, hospitality, factories, offices, strata buildings and sites with fire services or irrigation.
- Schools, universities, TAFE colleges and childcare centres
- Hospitals, medical centres and dental practices
- Aged care facilities
- Hotels, restaurants, cafes and food processing
- Factories and industrial sites
- Office buildings and retail complexes
- Properties with fire hydrant connections or sprinkler systems
- Irrigation systems with chemical or fertiliser dosing
- Strata and apartment complexes with shared water services
- Properties with swimming pool auto-fill connections
- Any property with a cross-connection risk, or that has received a water authority notice
Not sure whether your property needs a backflow device or is overdue for testing? Call 0413 522 220. We can advise based on your property type, water authority and existing infrastructure.
Can Drain Solutions manage backflow compliance for property managers?
Yes. Drain Solutions audits each site, tests every device in one visit, lodges the reports and reminds you before the next test, across one property or a whole portfolio.
- Site audit to find and record every testable device, including ones nobody knew about.
- All devices tested in one coordinated visit, with certificates issued.
- Reports lodged with the right water authority for each property.
- Annual reminder service before each test is due.
- Written compliance records for your files.
Devices often sit in plant rooms, risers or places nobody visits. Missed tests lead to water authority notices, fines and disconnection risk. Managing several properties? Call 0413 522 220 to discuss your portfolio.
Drain Solutions lodges your test results with Yarra Valley Water, South East Water and Greater Western Water. We also offer an annual reminder service, site audits and device registers, and we carry common parts so most repairs can be done on the same visit.
How do I check a plumber is licensed for backflow testing?
Check the plumber's licence on the Building and Plumbing Commission public register and confirm it shows the specialist class endorsement for backflow prevention.
A registered (not licensed) plumber cannot test independently, and neither can a licensed plumber without the endorsement. The endorsement needs an accredited course, a practical assessment and BPC registration. Drain Solutions' licence (BPC Licence No. 21741) is current and verifiable, our work is fully insured, and we also hold the specialist endorsement for thermostatic mixing valves. All regulated work is certified and backed by statutory warranty insurance.
What types of backflow devices do you test?
Drain Solutions tests all testable backflow devices, including RPZ valves, double check valves, double check detector assemblies, pressure vacuum breakers and testable single check valves.
| Device type | Short name | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Reduced Pressure Zone Device | RPZ / RPZD | High hazard: industrial, hospitals, fire services |
| Double Check Valve | DCV / DCVA | Medium hazard: irrigation, commercial |
| Double Check Detector Assembly | DCDA | Fire hydrant connections |
| Pressure Vacuum Breaker | PVB | Irrigation, low to medium hazard |
| Testable Single Check Valve | TSCV | Low hazard residential and light commercial |
How much does backflow testing cost in Melbourne?
Backflow testing cost depends on the number and type of devices, where they are and whether any repairs are needed. Drain Solutions gives you a written quote before testing.
Backflow testing with Drain Solutions costs $150 to $320 for the first device, and is typically $199. Extra devices tested at the same visit cost $90 to $145 each, and are typically $120. After-hours testing adds $100 to $250. All prices include GST. Call 0413 522 220 to confirm the price for your site.
- Number of devices on the property
- Device type (RPZ valves take longest)
- Access to plant rooms, pits and risers
- Repairs or replacement parts if a device fails
Which Melbourne suburbs does Drain Solutions cover for backflow testing?
Drain Solutions tests backflow devices across Melbourne's inner and middle suburbs, including Kew, Hawthorn, Camberwell, Balwyn, Glen Iris, Toorak, South Yarra, Richmond, Fitzroy, Carlton, East Melbourne, St Kilda and Brighton.
- Kew and Kew East, our home suburb: schools, medical practices, commercial buildings and homes with irrigation systems.
- Hawthorn: schools, medical centres, restaurants and commercial buildings.
- Camberwell: schools, childcare centres and apartments.
- Toorak: homes with irrigation, high-end commercial and institutional sites, where RPZ and double check valve testing is common.
- Richmond: restaurants and food manufacturers, with frequent double check valve and RPZ testing.
- Fitzroy and Carlton: restaurants, universities and healthcare.
- South Yarra: hotels, restaurants and apartments with irrigation or fire sprinklers.
- St Kilda: hospitality, apartment complexes and aged care.
- East Melbourne: hospitals and medical buildings.
- Glen Iris and Balwyn: childcare centres and homes with irrigation systems.
- Brighton: coastal commercial properties and homes with irrigation.
Call 0413 522 220 to confirm coverage.
Why choose Drain Solutions for backflow testing?
With Drain Solutions, the licensed backflow specialist does the test, and the water authority reporting and annual reminders are handled for you.
- The licence holder holds the BPC backflow prevention endorsement and does the testing himself.
- BPC licence current and verifiable. BPC Licence No. 21741.
- BPC compliance certificate when the device passes.
- Results lodged with your water authority.
- Most failed devices repaired and retested.
- Annual reminders so a test is never missed.
- Site audits and device registers for large or unknown sites.
- Coordinated testing across multiple properties for property managers.
- 40+ years experience with Melbourne commercial and institutional plumbing.
- TMV testing available in the same visit.
- Written quote before work starts.
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Direct Debit, and Cash on completion.
Real test job: Melbourne Grammar School, Grimwade House, Caulfield North
Drain Solutions tested a Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) backflow prevention device at Melbourne Grammar School, Grimwade House, on Balaclava Road in Caulfield North. The device passed the test.
What backflow services does Drain Solutions provide?
Drain Solutions provides annual backflow testing, RPZ valve testing, device installation, repairs and replacements, water authority reporting, and site audits with a device register.
Annual backflow testing
Every testable device on the property is tested in one visit to AS/NZS 2845.3 and AS/NZS 3500.1. We test both containment devices at the property boundary and zone devices inside the property's plumbing. If a device passes, you receive a copy of the signed BPC compliance certificate. If it fails, we tell you straight away, repair or replace it in the same visit where possible, and retest before we leave.
RPZ valve testing
Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) devices protect high-hazard sites such as industrial premises, fire services and hospitals. They are the most complex devices to test and the most likely to fail. Testing needs specialist equipment and the BPC endorsement. We test RPZ valves across Melbourne with certification and water authority reporting.
Installation, repairs and replacements
New or replacement devices are sized for the property's hazard rating and installed to current Australian Standards, usually in one visit. We carry common device types and common parts, so most repairs need no second visit.
Reporting, audits and device registers
We lodge results with your water authority and provide a register of every device, its location, type and next test date. Site audits are especially useful for schools, hospitals and large commercial buildings.
Book backflow testing in Melbourne: call 0413 522 220
Got a water authority notice or a device due for its annual test? Drain Solutions tests it, certifies it and lodges the report for you. Based in Kew East, covering Melbourne's inner and middle suburbs. Call 0413 522 220 or email info@drainsolutions.com.au.
Backflow Testing Melbourne: Frequently Asked Questions
What is backflow and why is it a problem?
Backflow is water flowing the wrong way in a plumbing system when mains pressure drops. It can draw water from irrigation, fire services or commercial equipment back into the drinking water supply. This creates a serious contamination risk for the whole supply network, not just one property. A backflow prevention device stops it, but only if it works, which is why annual testing is required.
Is backflow testing required by law in Victoria?
Yes. Under the Plumbing Code of Australia, AS/NZS 3500.1 and your local water authority's requirements, any property with a testable backflow prevention device must have it tested every year by a licensed plumber with the BPC backflow prevention endorsement, and a compliance certificate must be issued. Not complying can lead to fines or disconnection.
Who is responsible for backflow testing?
The property owner, or their appointed property manager. Water authorities send annual reminder notices to registered properties, but it is the owner's responsibility to have the test done and lodged.
I got a letter from Yarra Valley Water about backflow testing. What now?
Call Drain Solutions on 0413 522 220. We will confirm what is required, test the device and lodge the results with Yarra Valley Water for you, before the deadline on your letter. The same applies to South East Water and Greater Western Water notices.
How often does backflow testing need to be done?
Every 12 months. This interval is set by the BPC and enforced by your water authority. Drain Solutions runs an annual reminder service and contacts you before your next test is due.
Do you test containment and zone devices?
Yes. We test both containment devices at the property boundary and internal zone devices within the property's plumbing system.
How do I know a plumber can legally test backflow devices?
Check their licence on the Building and Plumbing Commission public register and make sure it shows the backflow prevention specialist endorsement. Drain Solutions holds this endorsement under BPC Licence No. 21741.
What is an RPZ valve?
A Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) valve is a backflow device used where the contamination risk is high, such as industrial sites, hospitals and fire services. It is the most complex type to test and the most likely to fail, and testing it needs specialist equipment and the BPC endorsement.
What happens if my backflow device fails the test?
Drain Solutions carries common parts, so most failed devices are repaired or replaced on the same visit and retested before we leave. The failed test and the repair are both included in the report to your water authority.
Can you manage backflow testing across several properties?
Yes. We coordinate testing schedules, audit sites where the device list is unknown, lodge reports with the right water authority for each property, and provide combined compliance records.
Does my house need backflow testing?
Most homes do not have a testable device. If your home has irrigation with chemical dosing, a pool auto-fill on the mains, a rainwater tank connected to the mains or medical equipment on the plumbing, a device may be installed. A water authority letter confirms testing is needed.
How long does a backflow test take?
How long a job takes depends on the pipe and what is found, so we explain before we start. Call 0413 522 220.
How much does backflow testing cost?
It depends on the number and type of devices, their location and whether any repairs are needed. Drain Solutions gives you a written quote before testing, including the certificate and water authority lodgement.
What Melbourne suburbs do you cover for backflow testing?
Kew, Kew East, Hawthorn, Camberwell, Balwyn, Glen Iris, Toorak, South Yarra, Richmond, Fitzroy, Carlton, East Melbourne, St Kilda, Brighton and surrounding suburbs. Call 0413 522 220 to confirm coverage.
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If your Melbourne property has testable backflow devices, get in touch today for backflow testing in Melbourne you can rely on. We will take care of the testing, the paperwork, and the compliance so you can focus on running your business.
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