I got a backflow testing notice from Portland Water Bureau — what do I do?
Short version: the letter is real, it's routine, and it's easy to resolve. Your property has a backflow prevention assembly on record (most often for a sprinkler or irrigation system), Oregon law requires it to be tested once a year, and the notice is your annual reminder that the test is due.
What the letter is telling you
- Which assemblies the Water Bureau has on record for your address — each one needs its own test.
- The deadline by which a passing test report must be on file. Residential irrigation notices typically go out in spring; your specific due date is printed in the letter.
- Sticker labels identifying each assembly. These go to your tester so the report gets matched to the right device — here's what the stickers are for.
What the city won't tell you
The official Water Bureau page explains the requirement but deliberately doesn't recommend a tester or quote a price. In practice: a routine residential test runs about $50–150, takes 15–30 minutes, and any OHA-certified tester can do it.
Your three-step checklist
- Find your assembly (usually where the irrigation line meets the water supply — here's how to locate it).
- Call an OHA-certified tester and book a time before your deadline. Have the letter handy when you call.
- Keep your copy of the passing report. The tester files the official one with the Water Bureau.
Don't sit on it — the enforcement path behind the letter is real, up to and including water shutoff. Here's what happens if you ignore the notice.
Source: Portland Water Bureau — testing requirements and reports. Details of your notice control — if anything in your letter differs from this page, follow the letter.