Backflow Testing & DOH-1013 Compliance
What Is Backflow?
Your plumbing is designed so that clean water flows in one direction: from the public water main into your home or business. Backflow is what happens when that flow reverses and water that has already entered your pipes — possibly carrying fertilizer, boiler chemicals, or wastewater — gets pulled or pushed back toward the drinking water supply.
That's why properties with irrigation systems, fire sprinklers, boilers, or commercial equipment are required to install a backflow prevention device (most commonly a reduced pressure zone assembly, or "RPZ," or a double check valve assembly) where their plumbing connects to the public supply. The device is a one-way gate that protects everyone downstream — but like any mechanical valve, it has to be tested to prove it still works.
Back-Siphonage
A sudden pressure drop in the water main — a water main break or heavy hydrant use — can siphon water backward out of your pipes, like drinking through a straw in reverse.
Backpressure
Boilers, pumps, and pressurized systems on your side of the meter can push water back into the supply line whenever their pressure exceeds the pressure of the main.
Cross-Connections
Any point where potable plumbing meets a non-potable source — irrigation lines, chemical feeders, fire systems — is a cross-connection that needs an approved device protecting it.
The Annual Test & the DOH-1013 Report
The annual test
New York State requires backflow prevention devices to be tested at least once a year — and after any repair or relocation — by a NYS-certified backflow prevention device tester. The tester checks the device's valves and relief mechanisms with calibrated gauge equipment to confirm it will actually stop a reversal of flow.
In Nassau County, your local water district tracks which properties have devices and sends reminders when a test is due. Skipping the test can mean violation notices or even water service interruption.
The DOH-1013 form
Test results are recorded on the DOH-1013 — the New York State Department of Health's "Report on Test and Maintenance of Backflow Prevention Device." The certified tester fills it out, signs it, and files it with the water supplier for the property.
For decades this meant paper forms, wet signatures, and mailing or hand-delivering reports to the district office. Today, software built for this exact workflow lets testers complete and submit the DOH-1013 digitally from the job site.
We Proudly Support Potaflow
Community · Nassau County
DOH-1013 filing, built by a Nassau tester
Potaflow is DOH-1013 backflow test report software created by Carlos Alberto Beltran, a NYS-certified backflow tester working right here in Nassau County. Testers fill out the DOH-1013 on their phone at the property, and the report goes straight to the Nassau water district — no paper, no per-test fees.
As a local sewer and drain company, we see every day how much time trades lose to paperwork. We support Potaflow because it was built in the field, by someone who does the work, for the people who do the work.
Visit PotaflowBuilt by Carlos Alberto Beltran · NYS-certified backflow tester #13927 · (516) 777-0089
Backflow FAQs
How do I know if my property needs a backflow device?
Your water district makes the call based on the hazards on your property. Common triggers include lawn irrigation systems, fire sprinkler systems, boilers with chemical treatment, pools with auto-fill lines, and most commercial or mixed-use buildings. If you've received a letter from your district about a required device or test, don't ignore it — deadlines are enforced.
Who is allowed to test my device in New York?
Only a backflow prevention device tester certified by New York State can perform the annual test and sign the DOH-1013 report. Certified testers carry a certification number issued by the state and use calibrated test kits. A general plumber without the certification cannot legally certify your device.
What happens after the test?
The tester records the results on the DOH-1013 form and files it with your water supplier. If the device fails, it must be repaired or replaced and then retested. Keep a copy of every filed report — districts audit compliance, and having your paperwork in order avoids repeat visits. Testers who file with tools like Potaflow submit the report digitally before they leave the driveway.
Does Sewer & Drain Services perform backflow testing?
Backflow certification is a specialized license, and our focus is drain cleaning, sewer lines, and plumbing installations. What we can do is help with everything around the device — and if you call us at (516) 788-3280, we're happy to point you to a certified tester in Nassau County.
Drain or sewer trouble while you're at it?
We're the 24/7 rescue team for everything that keeps water flowing where it should.
Call (516) 788-3280