Backflow prevention assemblies sit between a water utility’s lines and the pipes on the customer’s side of the meter. HOAs and condo associations often own several of them: on dedicated irrigation meters for common turf and medians, on fire sprinkler lines in condo buildings and clubhouses, and on service lines to amenity centers and pool buildings. Each assembly is tested on a schedule set by state rules and the local utility, and failed assemblies are repaired or replaced. This page explains what associations buy, what the Florida and Texas rules say, who makes the decision, and how many boards can be reached.
What Associations Buy
- Annual or scheduled testing of every assembly the association is responsible for, with test reports filed with the utility
- Repairs and rebuilds of assemblies that fail, including check valves, relief valves and seals
- Replacement assemblies when older units cannot be rebuilt or when the utility requires a different type
- Fire line assembly testing on condo towers and clubhouses, often coordinated with the fire sprinkler inspection
- Enclosures, insulation and theft protection for exposed assemblies, including freeze protection in parts of Texas
- Multi-site testing agreements that cover all of a community’s meters on one schedule and one invoice
A single association may have one assembly or dozens, depending on how many irrigation meters, buildings and amenity sites it has. Many boards prefer one vendor who tracks due dates for every device, so a testing agreement often leads to repair and replacement work later.
Florida: Fla. Admin. Code 62-555.360
Under Fla. Admin. Code Rule 62-555.360, each community water system must establish and implement a cross-connection control program, with a written plan, to protect the system from contamination caused by cross-connections on customers’ premises. The rule lists categories of customers for which backflow protection must be provided at or for the service connection. Among them are premises with a potable-water irrigation system on a dedicated irrigation service connection, premises with a wet-pipe sprinkler or wet standpipe fire system on a dedicated fire service connection, premises with an auxiliary or reclaimed water system, and buildings with five or more floors.
Each utility’s plan must state whether the utility or the customer is responsible for installing, testing and maintaining the required backflow protection, and must set the testing frequency, the qualifications for persons testing the assemblies and the test procedures. Assemblies required at non-residential service connections must be tested after installation or repair and at least annually after that. Assemblies required at residential service connections, defined as connections two inches or less in diameter serving only dwelling units, must be tested after installation or repair and at least every two years. Failed assemblies must be repaired, and the utility must keep records of installation, testing and repair.
Texas: 30 TAC 290.44(h) and 290.46
Under 30 Tex. Admin. Code 290.44(h), where an actual or potential contamination hazard exists, protection is required at the meter in the form of an air gap or a backflow prevention assembly, with the type of assembly set by the hazard table in 290.47(f). Required assemblies must be tested upon installation by a licensed backflow prevention assembly tester, and assemblies that protect against health hazards must be tested at least annually. Testers must complete an approved course, pass a state examination and hold a current license. Assemblies on fire lines may be tested and repaired only by testers permanently employed by an Approved Fireline Contractor. A signed test report for each assembly must be submitted to the public water supplier.
Under 30 Tex. Admin. Code 290.46, public water systems must adopt a plumbing ordinance, regulations or service agreement that prevents cross-connections, and a customer service inspection certificate must be completed before continuous service is provided to new construction. In both states, the program details, notices and deadlines are set by each local utility, so requirements can vary from one service area to the next. This summary is not legal advice.
Who Makes the Decision
The board approves testing agreements and replacement projects, which may be funded from the operating budget or reserves. At a managed community, the manager usually receives the utility’s compliance paperwork, collects quotes and brings contracts to the board. Some management companies also maintain a preferred vendor list, so reaching both the manager and the board is useful. At a self-managed community, board members handle the process directly. Self-managed associations are listed by county on the Florida and Texas self-managed pages.
How Many Boards Can Be Reached?
The figures below were taken from the HOA Contact Lists database on October 7, 2026. Only associations with at least one current, verified board member contact are counted.
| Associations | Board contacts | 50+ units | 100+ units | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida HOAs | 27,424 | 112,491 | 15,266 | 10,208 |
| Florida condo associations | 22,638 | 91,035 | 8,961 | 4,984 |
| Texas HOAs and POAs | 16,482 | 44,541 | 6,610 | 4,672 |
| Texas condo associations | 7,428 | 15,412 | 1,040 | 602 |
Larger communities tend to have more irrigation meters, more buildings and more amenity sites, and therefore more assemblies to test. Across both states, 31,877 associations with 50 or more units carry 131,424 current board contacts.
Where the Larger Florida Associations Are
| County | Associations (50+ units) | Board contacts |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade | 2,621 | 11,032 |
| Palm Beach | 2,418 | 11,928 |
| Broward | 2,291 | 10,734 |
| Orange | 1,583 | 6,440 |
| Hillsborough | 1,311 | 5,572 |
| Lee | 1,201 | 5,636 |
| Pinellas | 1,169 | 5,547 |
| Collier | 919 | 4,409 |
| Sarasota | 876 | 4,397 |
| Polk | 833 | 3,555 |
| Brevard | 705 | 3,199 |
| Duval | 703 | 2,714 |
Where the Larger Texas Associations Are
| County | Associations (50+ units) | Board contacts |
|---|---|---|
| Harris | 1,358 | 3,793 |
| Dallas | 1,143 | 3,548 |
| Travis | 1,017 | 3,066 |
| Collin | 954 | 2,957 |
| Bexar | 762 | 2,262 |
| Tarrant | 306 | 903 |
| Hidalgo | 245 | 636 |
| Williamson | 199 | 526 |
| Montgomery | 159 | 460 |
| Denton | 148 | 427 |
How Lists Are Built for Backflow Testing Companies
- Association type. Condo associations for fire line and building assemblies, with HOAs added for irrigation meters and clubhouses.
- Unit floor. 50 units and up, where several meters and buildings make a multi-site testing agreement practical.
- Service area. Counties, cities or ZIP codes inside the water utilities a company already tests for.
- Board roles. Presidents first, with treasurers added when replacements will be paid from reserves.
What a signed association contract could be worth, once connect and win rates are factored in, can be estimated with the free HOA Vendor Revenue Calculator.
Counts are free to run in the HOA Contact Lists search, and new accounts receive 5 free credits. Custom counts can be requested at support@hoacontactlists.com.
Related Resources
- Irrigation and smart-water companies: Florida and Texas HOA and condo board contacts
- How plumbing contractors win HOA and condo contracts in Florida
- How fire protection companies win HOA and condo contracts in Florida
- Florida HOA database and Texas HOA database
Frequently Asked Questions
How often must backflow assemblies be tested in Florida?
Under Fla. Admin. Code Rule 62-555.360, assemblies required at non-residential service connections must be tested after installation or repair and at least annually, and those at residential service connections at least every two years. Each utility’s plan sets the exact frequency.
How often must backflow assemblies be tested in Texas?
Under 30 Tex. Admin. Code 290.44(h), required assemblies must be tested on installation by a licensed tester, and assemblies that protect against health hazards must be tested at least annually.
Who may test a backflow assembly in Texas?
A licensed backflow prevention assembly tester who has completed an approved course and passed a state examination. Fire line assemblies may be tested and repaired only by testers employed by an Approved Fireline Contractor.
Who approves a backflow testing contract at an HOA or condo?
The board approves it. At managed communities, the manager usually handles utility paperwork, collects quotes and brings the contract to the board.
How many Florida and Texas associations with 50 or more units can be reached?
As of October 7, 2026, 31,877 associations with 50 or more units have a verified board contact in the HOA Contact Lists database, with 131,424 board contacts between them.