Little Thompson Water District customers need to be aware of backflow prevention and cross-connection. These are terms related to the possible contamination of drinking water when water connections cross and contaminants flow from untreated or contaminated water into clean, potable water. To prevent pollutants and contaminants from entering LTWD's water system, backflow assemblies are required on sprinkler and irrigation systems.

As a public water provider, LTWD is responsible for preventing water contamination from cross-connections in the water distribution system. LTWD has adopted the Colorado Cross-Connection Control Manual, 5th Edition, as the standard for its Backflow Prevention/Cross-Connection Control Program.

Property Owner Responsibilities

LTWD is required to survey all non-single-family-residential connections to the public water system under the Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulations (5 CCR 1002-11), Sections 11.37 and 11.39.

We must determine if the connection is a cross-connection unless it is controlled with the most protective backflow prevention assembly or method. LTWD must survey all connections within its waterworks to determine if a connection is a cross-connection.

If LTWD becomes aware of a single-family residential customer with a cross-connection to the public water system, LTWD must determine the type of backflow prevention assembly or backflow prevention method to control the cross-connection.

Non-residential property owners and single-family residential customers with high hazard cross-connections are responsible for maintaining their backflow devices and arranging for annual device testing by a certified Backflow Assembly Tester. The results of those tests shall be submitted to LTWD.

If you need to complete independent testing, we’ve provided a list of backflow assembly testers and a sample backflow prevention assembly test report. The backflow assembly testers list obtained from this site does not imply an endorsement by LTWD. Names referenced in this document are not recommendations for any specific business. Always do your homework by checking licenses, insurance, bonding and obtaining references

This is not a complete list of local backflow assembly testers. If you are a licensed and insured backflow assembly tester and would like to be included, please notify LTWD's office at (970) 532-2096 or email info@ltwd.org.

Enforcement of LTWD's Backflow Prevention & Cross-Connection Control Program

Non-residential customers, including Homeowner Associations (HOA) and residential customers with high-hazard cross-connections, must have backflow devices installed and tested annually and submit the test report to LTWD.

Periodically, LTWD may request that customers complete and submit a Backflow Prevention Cross-Connection Survey to identify potentially hazardous cross-connections.

To ensure compliance with required testing, LTWD can inspect and impose penalties for noncompliance.

If you have questions regarding LTWD’s Backflow Prevention Cross-Connection Program, please contact LTWD Backflow Specialist Roberta Dunn at (970) 481-7748 or email rdunn@ltwd.org.

Residential Customers

Residential property owners are not required to report backflow test results unless their device is identified as a high-hazard connection. LTWD does not consider standard automatic sprinkler systems to be a high hazard. We do recommend installing a pressure vacuum breaker on the irrigation line to protect your drinking water. Most city and county building codes require this. LTWD strongly encourages having these devices tested annually to protect the drinking water.

Pressure Vacuum Breakers

Pressure vacuum breakers are designed to provide protection against backflow (siphonage) of toxic or non-toxic liquids. An example of a typical device is shown to the left. Annual inspection helps ensure that the device is operating correctly to protect both the distribution system and the customer.