Backflow Blog
Welcome to the BSI Online Blog – Your Resource for Backflow Management Insights
Stay informed and ahead of the curve with the BSI Online Blog, your go-to source for expert advice, industry updates, and best practices in backflow prevention and compliance management. Whether you’re a water purveyor, tester, or a municipal compliance officer, our blog delivers valuable insights to help you streamline your backflow program, stay compliant with evolving regulations, and improve efficiency. From compliance checklists and seasonal maintenance tips to the latest backflow testing technology and customer success stories, our content is tailored to help you protect your water supply and manage your data more effectively. Check back regularly for new posts that support your mission to safeguard public health and simplify backflow compliance.
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May Maintenance with BSI: How to Prepare for Peak Backflow Testing Season
As the temperatures rise and the seasons shift, May marks more than just the start of irrigation season, it is the gateway to the busiest time of the year for backflow prevention and [...]
Spring Cleaning for Water Systems
Why Now is the Time to Schedule Backflow Testing Spring is a time for renewal and fresh starts. While many businesses and property owners focus on cleaning up physical spaces, one cri [...]
Understanding BSI Online: Insights from a Tester’s Perspective
Insights from a Tester's Perspective When a water purveyor partners with BSI Online, the time needed to administer a robust and compliant cross-connection control program significa [...]
Certified Backflow Testing, Backflow Software, and Backflow Data Management
Certified Backflow Testing, Backflow Software, and Backflow Data Management A career in backflow testing, the water industry, and backflow software goes hand-in-hand. There are many [...]
How do I Accomplish all Facets of an EPA Required Cross-Connection Control Program?
How do I Accomplish all Facets of an EPA Required Cross-Connection Control Program? Master your EPA Cross-Connection Control Program Protecting clean potable water supplies is cr [...]
The City of Angola, IN Customer Spotlight
An Indiana BSI Online Customer Spotlight #1 What method were you using to track your backflow records before BSI Online? “Previously, we were using an Excel spreadsheet to m [...]
How to Streamline Backflow Testing with Modern Software
How to Streamline Backflow Testing with Modern Software Backflow testing is essential to protecting drinking water from cross-contamination and ensuring EPA compliance. However, [...]
The Importance of Backflow Data Management in Water Safety
The Importance of Backflow Data Management in Water Safety Backflow prevention is a critical component of maintaining a safe and reliable water supply. It ensures that contaminated w [...]
The Future of Backflow Management: Trends to Watch
Backflow management is a critical component of maintaining safe and clean potable water systems, while preventing cross-contamination that can lead to serious risks. As technology adv [...]
Tips for Productivity in the Workplace and Remote Working Insight
Tips for Productivity in the Workplace and Remote Working Insight Here at BSI Online, we are a remote employee-based company - with our staff being located all across the United [...]
Rolling Meadows Customer Spotlight
The City of Rolling Meadows, IL Customer Spotlight An Illinois BSI Online Customer Spotlight Q: What method were you using to track your backflow records before BSI Online? [...]
Innovation and Automation with BSI Online
Innovation and Automation with BSI Online Revolutionizing cross-connection control data management Here at BSI Online, we are continuously advancing our solution and service [...]
Boca Raton Customer Spotlight
BSI Customer Spotlight: The City of Boca Raton A Florida Customer Spotlight Q: What method were you using to track your backflow records before BSI Online? “Luckily, when I [...]
What Does Cloud-Based Imply?
What Does Cloud-Based Imply? Enhancing Efficiency with BSI Online’s Cloud-Based Solution “The Cloud” - everyone has heard of it, but do you know what this magical storage enta [...]
The Village of Northbrook, IL Customer Spotlight
The Village of Northbrook, IL Customer Spotlight An Illinois Customer Highlight What method were you using to track your backflow records before BSI Online? "Prior to utilizi [...]
Frequently Asked Backflow and Cross-Connection Questions… Answered
Backflow Industry Standards with BSI’s Backflow Academy Although very niche, the backflow/cross-connection industry is booming. BSI Online wants to pour resources into education and [...]
The Town of Clayton, North Carolina Customer Spotlight
The Town of Clayton, North Carolina Customer Spotlight What method were you using to track your backflow records before BSI Online? The Town of Clayton was priorly using anot [...]
December 2023 Blog
A Look Back on BSI’s Year, Backflow Solutions in 2023 A Year in Review 2023 was a milestone year for BSI Online- not only for our industry-leading team, but for the loyal custome [...]
Elsinore Valley Customer Spotlight
Elsinore Valley Water District, California A BSI Online Customer Spotlight What Method were you using to track your backflow records before BSI Online? “We were using an access [...]
A BSI Operations Department Highlight
Meet Chrissy Walsh: BSI Online’s Vice President of Operations BSI Online is the industry-leading solution for automated backflow program management. From data handling to customer sup [...]
California Customer Spotlight
Placer County Water Agency What method were you using to track your California backflow records before BSI Online? "We used our internal system; we would track all of the devic [...]
A One-on-One with Morgan Clarke: BSI’s Marketing Manager
A One-on-One with Morgan Clarke: BSI’s Marketing Manager From recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding, obtaining the right individuals to correctly market your product and protect [...]
BSI’s Industry-Leading Account Management Department
BSI’s Industry-Leading Account Management Department When you contract with BSI Online, you receive unmatched, industry-leading support. Our user-friendly program allows you to acces [...]
BSI’s Exceptional Customer Service
A Customer Service Highlight with BSI’s Customer Service Assistant Managers BSI Online is the solution to manage all your backflow needs. Included in our cloud-based, data manage [...]
What Sets BSI Above the Competition
What sets BSI Online above the competition? BSI specializes in backflow data management and program administration by providing a cloud-based solution to water purveyors to increase c [...]
Backflow In The Community
As the weather begins to get warmer, this means all the fun activities that come along with the spring and summer months. Higher temperatures and higher water usage go hand in hand, w [...]
Women in Backflow – Nissa Pauley
In honor of March being Women’s History Month, BSI felt it was appropriate to highlight one of the most hard-working women in backflow. She's also a BSI Online client, Nissa Pauley [...]
Highlighting BSI’s Additional Services
Did you know BSI offers additional services that include automated additional notices for your backflow tracking program, like a Failed or Final Notice, FOG data & program managem [...]
how to become a certified backflow tester
Certified Backflow Testing, Backflow Software, and Backflow Data Management A career in backflow testing, the water industry, and backflow software goes hand-in-hand. There are many [...]
Meet the Staff Update
We have an exciting new blog today as we catch up with BSI’s Customer Service Manager, Chrissy Bloom! You may remember her past Employee Spotlight from a couple years back, Chrissy ha [...]
Customer Spotlight – Snyder, Texas
Snyder, Texas joined the BSI Online backflow community 2 years ago. Their program previously was manual, paper copies of backflow test reports. BSI Online has helped Snyder efficientl [...]
Responsibilities for Ensuring an Effective Cross-Connection Control Program
Is it the plumber's responsibility to ensure an approved and effective cross-connection control program? Is it the owner’s sole responsibility? No, it’s everyone’s responsibility! The [...]
Customer Spotlight- The City of Fresno, California
Learn more about Fresno, and California backflow in this customer spotlight What method were you using to track your backflow records before BSI Online? Before becoming a customer of [...]
How Do I Increase My Backflow Compliance?
Industry best practices & utilizing BSI Online to increase backflow testing compliance. When you hear the word “compliance,” what comes to mind? The first order of business regard [...]
Backflow Hazards and How to Protect Against Them
What Causes Backflow Incidents to Occur? Have you ever wondered what exactly are the main causes of backflow incidents? Backflow incidents are caused by one of two things: backpressur [...]
Customer Spotlight – League City, TX
What method were you using to track your backflow records before BSI Online? Until signing up with BSI in 2016, device information and tracking was taken care of by our Public Works D [...]
Customer Spotlight – Flagstaff, AZ
Flagstaff has been a partner with BSI Online for over 10+ years. Read below for insight as to why they chose BSI Online and continue to partner with our organziation for backflow data [...]
The Cost of A Backflow Incident
Backflow can and has affected water systems across the country, costing millions of dollars in mitigating the events. According to the EPA’s document titled “Potential Contamination [...]
Customer Spotlight – Flower Mound, TX – BSI Saved US Time!
Check out the review below. We are now managing over 75 water systems in the State of Texas, making BSI the largest provider in the State for backflow data management. What method were [...]
Customer Spotlight – City of Shafter, CA
What method were you using to track your backflow records before BSI Online? The City of Shafter contracted with the County Health Department for administering its Cross Connection Co [...]
Everything You Need to Know About Type ll Backflow Assemblies
Through the evolution process of backflow prevention assemblies, the detector assembly was created for use primarily in fire protection system installations. The concept was to add a [...]
Customer Spotlight: River Forest, IL
1. What method were you using to track your backflow records before BSI Online? We were attempting to run our own backflow program using in-house staff and quickly realized that it wa [...]
Customer Spotlight: Cross Valley Water District – Washington
Cross Valley Water District has been a fantastic partner over the last year. Their previous method of annual tracking was time consuming and taking up so much staff time to enter data [...]
What Separates Us from Competition?
What Separates Us from Competition? This is one of the most popular questions we get in a sales call/demonstration. For anyone that has met with us or is a current customer knows our [...]
Customer Spotlight | St. Cloud Minnesota
St. Cloud, Minnesota has been a partner with BSI Online for the last 6 years. They did not have an active program prior to partnering with BSI Online. We initially reviewed their ordi [...]
Earth Day 2021
We love helping keep our Earth's water free from backflow by managing backflow programs across the US and Canada. BSI celebrates Earth Day Everyday and contributes by: The essence and [...]
Water facts #2
Water: Lifeblood of the Earth and our most precious resource covers 71% of the surface. Out of the 326 million cubic miles of water on the planet, 97% of it is found in the oceans with [...]
Customer Spotlight | Vallecitos Water District
Vallecitos Water District transitioned to BSI in June 2017. They previously used a software program to manage their annual data base. All notices, tests, tester certifications were all [...]
The Evolution of Submitting Test Reports
For years, backflow testers in the field had many tedious tasks that went into their everyday jobs. Testing the backflow assemblies was just a small part of what they had to do. While [...]
Customer Spotlight | Anna, TX
We sat down with Chip, the Water Superintendent for Anna, Texas. Before BSI, Chip would spend most of his days monitoring a spreadsheet or preparing letters. Here's what he had to say [...]
Veterans Day: A Brief History and Reflection
I wanted to start off by giving a brief history on Veterans Day. On November 11, 1919, at the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first [...]
Meet the Staff: Founder Edition
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Michael Eisenhauer, the man that wrote the book on backflow. No really, he actually co-authored the State of Illinois regulations! Our [...]
Water Facts
The facts below clearly illustrate the importance water has on this planet. Water is so vital to our entire existence it is the reason we all must do our part in conserving, recycling [...]
Meet the Staff #9
Ladies and Gentleman I'd like to introduce to you, one of our newest members, Carrie Martin! Carrie started at the end of January and we were lucky enough to get to know her before we [...]
On the Road Again
Since the pandemic called COVID-19 started a few months ago, the normal world we all live in has come to a grinding halt. The “stay at home” or “shelter in place” orders keep us from [...]
Customer Spotlight: Monee, IL
We recently sat down with our wonderful customer Shannon from Monee, IL. Shannon has worked with BSI since 2015 and we wanted to hear what she had to say about her experience. How has [...]
Tips on Working from Home
Let's face it, most of us our doing it right now even as you read this. Working from home has become a challenge the majority of people have had to face. While our offices may look di [...]
Meet the staff #8
Vanessa is a part of our Client Support Team here at BSI. She has worked with us for a little over two years now! When asked about her favorite part of working for BSI Online, she say [...]
Partners
Most people, when they hear outsourcing, get scared. Whether the fear of the contractor “replacing” their job or fear of not getting the same service as you would be handling the job i [...]
Customer Spotlight: Liberty Utilities (California)
We recently sat down with Vanessa Lumley, a Water Quality Programs Specialist from Liberty Utilities (California) and one of our newer customers to ask a few questions about their B [...]
Why do I have to get my backflow assembly tested every year?
This has to be one of the most popular questions we get at BSI. Daily it seems like clockwork, a water customer will receive a notification announcing that the annual testing of thei [...]
The Cloud
It's in the cloud. I'm sure by now you've heard this term used in most of the technology you use daily. Whether it's additional storage for your photos on your phone or a back up of yo [...]
Customer Spotlight | Urbandale Water Utility
It's hard to imagine 7 years ago today, but back then, Richard Kerby of Urbandale, IA needed help with the administrative tasks involved in running their backflow program, all while tr [...]
Meet the Staff #7
Meet Madison one of our talented Customer Service Representatives. Madison has just celebrated her first year with BSI and her favorite part about working with us is her co-workers. [...]
COVID-19 and BSI
BSI values the health and safety of our employees and customers. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, we are taking the steps necessary to ensure that we are doing our part to p [...]
Covid 19 and Water
In light of the Covid-19 outbreak, we have been hearing questions about the health and safety of our drinking water. BSI has always been dedicated in protecting our most precious reso [...]
Water Boil Advisory
Jon Snow told the world that, "Winter was coming." Not to be confused with John Snow who famously told the world water should be "filtered and boiled before it is used". This is one o [...]
Backflow Preventer Test Kit
The singular piece of equipment used to perform backflow prevention assembly testing is the Backflow Preventer Test Kit. It makes complete sense that the care and maintenance of your [...]
Meet the Staff #6
Chrissy is our Vice President of Operations here at BSI. She has been with us for over 13 years & her favorite part has been seeing how far BSI has come. She has a beautiful daugh [...]
Single Use Bottles
Recent studies have shown that Americans use on average 50 billion water bottles each year and climbing, though only recycle 23% of the plastic bottles when finished. This means that [...]
Plumbers Without Borders
Plumbers Without Borders is a grassroots effort, born from the desire to help people in dire need, where human suffering and disease is caused in part by a lack of safe plumbing and h [...]
Meet the Staff #5
Say hello to Carmen, who is a Marketing & Sales Associate here at BSI Online. We’ve been lucky to have Carmen with us for over a year now. When asked about her favorite part of wo [...]
Winterize Your Irrigation System
When the calendar flips to October, the first hints of fall arrive with it. We look forward to the weekend football games, outdoor campfires with family and friends, going to the cou [...]
Bottle Water vs Tap Water: Is This Even a Fair Debate?
According to an International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) Market report, in 2017 bottled water surpassed carbonated beverage as the number 1 packaged beverage in the United State [...]
Customer Spotlight: Granbury, Texas
Just over a year ago, the City of Granbury, TX was bogged down with the administrative tasks involved in running their backflow program. They decided to partner with BSI Online to han [...]
Grand Mailing Day
We all know that mailing in our line of business is a long, tedious, and expensive process. It can add unwanted stress and take up so much time that could be used somewhere else. We a [...]
Customer Spotlight | Downers Grove
The Village of Downers Grove, Illinois has been a customer of BSI for over 9 years. They were one of our first online customers and we are so humbled for Downers Grove to continually [...]
Irrigation System and Backflow Testing
A cross-connection is defined as any real or potential connection that could contaminate or pollute the public water system or your drinking water. Backflow is the reversal of the dir [...]
Meet the Staff #4
Meet Katie Rager, our Vice President of Business Development. She is a die-hard Cubs fan and an amazing mom of 2. Katie has been with BSI for over 18 years. She makes sure our munic [...]
Meet the Staff #3
Chrissy is our Customer Service Manager here at BSI, and she has been with us for almost 5 years now. Her favorite part of the job is some coworkers who will be lifelong friends! Sh [...]
Type ll Assemblies
Everything You Need to Know | By: Jody Hill, Director of Field Operations Through the evolution process of backflow prevention assemblies, the detector assembly was created for use pr [...]
Spotlight – Butler County
Butler County transitioned to BSI Online in July of 2017. They were utilizing software but still had to handle all the manual data entry from test reports, check on tester credentials [...]
Meet the Staff #2
This is Doug, our Director of Marketing here at BSI. He has been with us for 12 years, and his main duty is to do whatever Brad tells him to do. ???? His favorite part of the job is [...]
The Great Isolation vs Containment Debate: Part 1
Comprehensive Cross-Connection Control Programs vs. Backflow Tracking Programs “In any distribution system, potential cross-connections and therefore sources of contamination can be [...]
Meet the Staff
We'd like to introduce... Brad Stancampiano | Executive Vice President Brad is another one of our BSI veterans, who has been with us for 14 years! As far as his job duties around h [...]
Customer Spotlight
Town of Southern Pines, North Carolina The Town of Southern Pines transitioned to BSI Online in late 2015. Their program started small with 93 devices and it was a traditional, manual [...]
History of Cross Connection Control
Part 2, 20th Century Cross Connection In Part 1 of this series, we took a quick look back at the beginning of water systems and what eventually led up to the need for Cross Connection [...]
History of Cross Connection Control
Part 1, Looking Back In order for us to understand the history of where cross connection control began, we must first take a look back to the history of plumbing and water distributio [...]
Baby Steps
“Small changes can make a big difference.” Today we are talking about what a comprehensive backflow program looks like. We repeatedly hear from utility operators, public works directo [...]
What’s In A Word? Assembly Vs. Device
Have you ever taken notice that words, through repeated improper usage, eventually become the norm? And nobody questions it anymore as it becomes a part of our daily lexicon. When I tr [...]
The Importance of Vital Device Information
If an incident were to occur and there was no record of what type of device, size, location, previous test history, who tested the device, or proof the tester is/was licensed, there c [...]
Series: What’s in a Word
Cross-connection Vs. Backflow Let’s discuss two words in the industry that are too often interchanged and should not be – cross-connection and backflow. Despite popular usage, thes [...]
Introducing Backflow Solutions, Inc. New Look!
Backflow Solutions, Inc. has grown and evolved over the years, and we felt it was time for a face lift. Our rebranding not only reflects who we are as a company but represents the ong [...]
Backflow Solutions Series #2: How Do I Populate My Backflow Inventory? The Survey.
In some states, water purveyors are required to send out a cross-connection control survey to all properties, as a means of collecting information about properties who might have a hea [...]
Backflow Solutions Series #1: Public Education
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” -Benjamin Franklin Our #1 customer service phone call here at BSI is, “Why do I need to have this device tested?” Our customer serv [...]
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