All lawn sprinkler systems are required to have a backflow prevention assembly / device to prevent the accidental siphoning of non-potable water back into the potable water system. Here is a summary of Kansas City area municipalities and their requirements. Request a Backflow Certification.
City of Olathe
Backflow Inspection Request Form
Water service provided by: City of Olathe or WaterOne
The City of Olathe requires a cross connection permit be acquired prior to the installation of a new irrigation system or the replacement of any backflow device. This permit application must be made by the homeowner or a Johnson County Contractor Licensed Plumber. Hometown Lawn is licensed to pull these permits as a licensed plumber.
Types allowed:
- PVB Pressure Vacuum Breaker
- Must be 12″ above highest head
- Min. 6″ above ground
- Not allowed in a pit or hole
- RPZ Reduced Pressure Zone
- Must be 12″ above ground
- Not allowed in a pit or hole
All backflow preventer assemblies are required to be tested by a certified tester:
- upon installation and annually, thereafter
- after repairs have been made
- when an assembly has been relocated
City of Shawnee
Water service provided by: WaterOne
The City of Shawnee requires a Lawn Sprinkler Permit be acquired and permit fee be paid prior to the installation of a new irrigation system or the replacement of any backflow device. This permit application must be made by the homeowner or a Johnson County Contractor Licensed Plumber. Hometown Lawn is licensed to pull these permits.
Types allowed:
- PVB Pressure Vacuum Breaker
- Must be 12″ above highest head
- Min. 6″ above ground
- Not allowed in a pit or hole
Kansas City, Mo (KCMO)
Water service provided by: KCMO
Types Allowed:
- Double Check
From Sec. 78-296. 1. Lawn irrigation systems.
“New and existing irrigation systems without facilities for injection of pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals must have an approved double check valve assembly installed with accordance with Section 78-298, with other provisions of this Article, and with Chapter 18, Article V “Plumbing Code”. The backflow assembly may be installed between the customer service line and the irrigation system.”
WaterOne
WaterOne Backflow Testing Form
Types allowed:
- Double Check
- PVB Pressure Vacuum Breaker
- RPZ Reduced Pressure Zone
Backflow Prevention Assembly (BPA) installed in WaterOne service area must be in the “List of Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies”, which is published by the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research from the University of Southern California.
BPA must be tested at the time of installation by a qualified (certified) tester, than annually thereafter. Test results must be recorded on a WaterOne backflow assembly test report form and returned to the Distribution Water Quality and New Service Department prior to final approval of the installation by WaterOne.
BPA should be re-tested anytime water service to the assembly is disrupted. This is to ensure that the proper functionality was not compromised during the loss of water pressure or water flow.
In the event there is a conflict between WaterOne’s requirements, City or County Plumbing Codes, the more stringent requirement shall have precedence.