Filing backflow test reports with the city is one of the most tedious parts of the job. Every municipality has different forms, different submission methods, and different deadlines. Miss one and your client gets a violation notice — and you get the phone call. FlowCert's automatic city submission eliminates that entire headache.
How Automatic Submission Works
When you complete a test in FlowCert, the platform already knows which city the device is in (via ZIP code lookup). Here's what happens next:
- Format matching: FlowCert formats your report to match the city's required layout — whether that's a specific form number, field order, or file type
- Method detection: The system identifies the city's preferred submission method (email, online portal, fax, or mail)
- Automatic filing: For cities that accept email or portal submissions, FlowCert sends the report on your behalf within minutes of test completion
- Confirmation tracking: You get a submission receipt with timestamp and delivery confirmation in your dashboard
Supported Submission Methods
Our city database covers hundreds of municipalities across Texas and is expanding nationally. For each city, we track:
- Required report format and form number
- Submission email address or portal URL
- Deadline (days after testing)
- Whether third-party submission is accepted
- Grace period and enforcement level
Why This Matters for Your Business
Manual submission costs you more than you think:
- Time: 10–15 minutes per report spent formatting, attaching, and sending
- Risk: One missed deadline can trigger violation notices for your client
- Reputation: Late submissions reflect poorly on your professionalism
- Scale: At 20+ tests per week, manual submission becomes a full day of admin work per month
The ROI Is Immediate
If you run 80 tests a month and each submission takes 12 minutes manually, that's 16 hours of admin work. FlowCert reduces that to zero. At a $75/hour billable rate, that's $1,200/month in recovered capacity — far more than the cost of a Pro subscription.
Compliance Tracking Dashboard
Every submission is logged in your FlowCert dashboard with:
- Submission date and method used
- Delivery confirmation or error status
- City's deadline vs. your submission date
- Quick resubmission if the city requests corrections
What If My City Isn't in the Database?
Our coverage is growing every week. If your city isn't listed yet:
- Use the ZIP code lookup tool to check — many cities are already covered
- Submit a city data request and we'll research and add it within 48 hours
- You can always download the formatted PDF and submit manually as a fallback
Frequently Asked Questions
Does automatic submission work for all cities?
Currently, automatic submission is available for cities that accept email or portal-based reports. Cities requiring physical mail or fax-only submission will have the report pre-formatted for you to send manually. We're adding new cities weekly.
Will the city know FlowCert submitted on my behalf?
Reports are submitted with your name, certification number, and company information — exactly as if you sent them yourself. FlowCert acts as your filing tool, not a third party.
What if a submission fails?
If a submission encounters an error (invalid email, portal downtime), you'll receive an immediate alert in your dashboard with the option to retry or download the report for manual submission. No report falls through the cracks.