Backflow Laws: Virginia
Virginia Backflow Prevention Laws, Regulations, and Compliance Requirements
Virginia made a landmark change to backflow tester certification in 2021: starting January 1, 2023, all persons testing and repairing backflow prevention assemblies must be certified by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) as backflow prevention device workers. This statewide DPOR certification replaced the previous local/utility-level credentialing system. Virginia Waterworks Regulations (12 VAC 5-590) under VDH govern backflow prevention for water supply protection. Assembly standards reference USC-FCCCHR. VDH no longer maintains its own approved assembly list. This guide covers Virginia's 2023 DPOR change, Fairfax Water's joint program with Fairfax County, and other major Virginia utilities.
Virginia State Regulatory Framework
Virginia’s backflow prevention requirements are established in the Virginia Waterworks Regulations at 12 VAC 5-590-580 through 630, administered by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Office of Drinking Water (ODW). VDH holds EPA primacy under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The Waterworks Regulations require waterworks purveyors to maintain and enforce cross-connection control programs, including ensuring all backflow prevention devices are installed, maintained, and annually tested.
Assembly standards: VDH-ODW relies on the USC-FCCCHR approval process for backflow prevention assemblies and devices. VDH no longer maintains its own separate listing of approved assemblies — any assembly approved by USC-FCCCHR would comply with Virginia Waterworks Regulations and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC, which has adopted the IPC using ASSE standards). ASSE-approved assemblies also comply with VUSBC. Virginia property owners should verify their assemblies appear on the current USC-FCCCHR list.
2023 DPOR Certification Requirement — The Most Important Recent Change
The Virginia Department of Health updated the Waterworks Regulations in 2021 (signed into Virginia state law June 23, 2021). Under 12 VAC 5-590-630, Subsection D: Starting January 1, 2023, all persons testing and repairing backflow prevention assemblies and backflow prevention devices must be certified by a Commonwealth of Virginia tradesman certification program, identified by DPOR as ‘backflow prevention device workers.’
This is a major change from the prior system where local utility acceptance and national certifications (ABPA, ASSE, AWWA) were sufficient. As of January 1, 2023, Virginia requires DPOR certification specifically, in addition to any national credentials. Test reports submitted after December 31, 2022, from non-DPOR-certified testers are void and require retesting by a DPOR-certified tester. Property owners should verify their tester’s DPOR certification number before scheduling service and include it on all test reports.
Virginia DPOR Certification Is Now Mandatory — Non-Compliant Tests Are Void
If your backflow tester does not hold current DPOR certification as a backflow prevention device worker, any test report they submit after December 31, 2022, is legally void in Virginia. This means you would be considered out of compliance even if testing was performed — and the test would need to be redone by a DPOR-certified tester at your expense. Always verify DPOR certification before scheduling backflow testing in Virginia.
Major Water Purveyors in Virginia
Fairfax Water
Fairfax Water is Virginia’s largest water utility, serving approximately 1.8 million people in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church. Fairfax Water operates its cross-connection control program jointly with Fairfax County Land Development Services and the City of Fairfax Fire Department and Code Administration. The joint program is documented in Fairfax Water’s Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Program Manual (June 1, 2021 edition).
Key Fairfax requirements: All underground lawn and garden irrigation systems require backflow prevention assemblies. Fairfax County Land Development Services is the enforcement arm for cross-connection violations — water service disconnection notices from Fairfax Water originate when Fairfax County notifies Fairfax Water of unresolved violations. Annual testing results must be submitted within 14 days of testing; confirm receipt within 14 days. Only DPOR-certified backflow prevention device workers may test in Fairfax County. Fairfax County maintains its own ‘Authorized Vendor’ list of contractors registered to perform backflow testing.
Virginia American Water
Virginia American Water serves communities statewide and has partnered with Backflow Solutions Inc. (BSI Online) for cross-connection control program administration. BSI manages compliance tracking, sends due/overdue notices, and receives test reports. Annual testing by DPOR-certified testers is required. The DPOR certification requirement effective January 1, 2023, applies in all Virginia American Water service areas.
Loudoun Water
Loudoun Water serves rapidly growing Loudoun County in the Northern Virginia region. Loudoun Water issued specific guidance in advance of the January 1, 2023 DPOR deadline, notifying testers that reports received after December 31, 2022, from non-DPOR-certified testers would be void. Loudoun Water includes DPOR certification numbers on test reports.
Richmond Water (City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities)
Richmond’s water utility serves the state capital and surrounding areas. Annual testing by DPOR-certified testers is required. Richmond’s cross-connection program aligns with VDH Waterworks Regulations.
Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) and Hampton Roads Utilities
The Hampton Roads region — Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News — is served by multiple utilities. Each operates cross-connection control programs under VDH Waterworks Regulations. All require DPOR-certified testers effective January 1, 2023. BSI Online and other platforms are used for test report submission.
Spotsylvania County Utilities and Northern Virginia Corridor
Spotsylvania County Utilities, Prince William County Utilities, and other Northern Virginia and I-95 corridor utilities have updated their programs to require DPOR certification. Spotsylvania’s program explicitly references the June 23, 2021 VDH Waterworks Regulation revision and the January 1, 2023 DPOR deadline in its customer communications.
Fairfax County Dual Check Valve Warning
Fairfax County Land Development Services specifically warns that the most common backflow prevention device installed in error in Fairfax is the Dual Check Valve Backflow Prevention Device. While this device provides some protection, it is not designed to prevent potential hazardous contamination during a backflow event. Fairfax County encourages all customers to install a Testable Backflow Prevention Assembly per VUSBC and VDH requirements. Properties found to have only a dual check valve in a high-hazard application may receive notices to upgrade to testable assemblies.
Property Owner Compliance Summary for Virginia
DPOR certification (mandatory since Jan. 1, 2023): Only DPOR-certified backflow prevention device workers may test or repair backflow assemblies. Verify DPOR certification before scheduling.
Annual testing: Required for all covered assemblies annually.
USC-FCCCHR assemblies: All assemblies must be on current USC-FCCCHR approved list.
Fairfax: Authorized Vendor registration required. Submit test results within 14 days. Confirm receipt within 14 days.
Irrigation: All underground irrigation systems require testable backflow prevention assemblies.
Find a Certified Backflow Tester in Virginia
Find DPOR-certified backflow prevention device workers at getyourbackflowtested.com/backflow-testing-near-me/virginia-backflow-testing or the DPOR tradesman certification database at dpor.virginia.gov — covering Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, and all Virginia markets.
Virginia Regulatory Reference Links
| Resource / Agency | URL / Link Target |
|---|---|
VDH — Office of Drinking Water (Waterworks Regulations) | |
12 VAC 5-590-630 — Backflow Prevention (updated 2021) | |
DPOR — Backflow Prevention Device Workers Tradesman Certification | |
Fairfax Water — Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention | |
Fairfax County — Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Program | |
Virginia Section AWWA — Backflow Prevention Tester Resources | |
Loudoun Water — DPOR Tester Certification Policy Update |