Backflow testing for sprinkler systems in Gahanna, OH

Ohio · Last checked November 2026

Test every year

Gahanna requires the backflow preventer on a lawn irrigation system to be tested every 12 months after the last test, by a tester certified by the Ohio Department of Commerce.

Key facts

Deadline
Within 12 months of the previous test.
Tester
Ohio Department of Commerce certified.

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How it works

A lawn sprinkler system connects to drinking water, so it needs a backflow preventer to stop fertilizer and lawn water from being pulled back into the pipes. Most cities require that device to be tested by a certified tester, usually every spring, with the report filed by a set date. Miss it and you can face late fees or a water shutoff notice.

  1. Find the backflow device near where the sprinkler line leaves the house, often a valve assembly above ground.
  2. Check your city's deadline. Many fall between May 31 and June 15.
  3. Hire a tester certified in your state, or wait for the utility if it tests for you.
  4. Make sure the tester files the report with the city, and keep a copy.
  5. Not using the sprinklers? Ask about an inactive or deactivation certificate instead of a test.

What it costs

A residential backflow test usually costs about $50 to $150. Some cities add a small filing fee, around $12, and late fees can run $30 to about $80. Repairs to a failed device cost more.

More in Ohio and nearby

Sources

Last checked November 2026. Programs open, close and change funding every year. Confirm with the city before you hire anyone. Report a change.

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