Water authorities face an impossible task: tracking thousands of backflow prevention assemblies across their jurisdiction using spreadsheets, paper forms, and manual follow-ups. When a device goes untested, the authority often doesn't know until a contamination event forces an audit. FlowCert's Water Authority Compliance Portal changes that equation entirely — giving municipalities real-time visibility into every registered assembly, every test result, and every overdue device.
What the Authority Portal Provides
Each participating water authority gets a dedicated, branded portal with a unique URL. No software installation, no license fees, no training required. The portal displays:
- Device registry: Every backflow assembly registered within the jurisdiction, with serial numbers, addresses, device types, manufacturers, and installation details
- Compliance dashboard: At-a-glance KPIs showing total assemblies, compliant devices, overdue devices, and overall compliance rate
- Test report history: Every test result filed through FlowCert, with pass/fail status, test dates, and submission confirmation
- Filtering and search: Find any device by serial number, address, or manufacturer — and filter by compliance status (compliant, overdue, due soon, never tested)
Real-Time, Not Retroactive
Unlike traditional paper-based systems where authorities learn about test results weeks or months after the fact, FlowCert's portal updates the moment a tester submits a report. The authority sees the result before the ink would have dried on a paper form.
How It Works for Water Authorities
Getting started is straightforward:
- Registration: The water authority contacts FlowCert to set up their portal. We create a dedicated URL (e.g.,
flowcert.co/authority/your-city) and configure it for their jurisdiction - Device mapping: As testers in the jurisdiction use FlowCert to file reports, devices are automatically registered and mapped to the authority's portal
- Ongoing monitoring: Authority staff can check the portal at any time — no login required, just a secure access link
- Enforcement support: The portal highlights overdue devices and devices that have never been tested, enabling targeted enforcement outreach
Why Authorities Need This
Cross-connection control programs are mandated by the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act, but most local authorities lack the technology to manage them effectively. Common pain points include:
- Manual tracking: Staff spend hours each week entering test results from faxed or emailed reports into spreadsheets
- Incomplete records: Paper-based systems inevitably lose reports, creating compliance gaps that only surface during audits
- Reactive enforcement: Without real-time data, authorities can only respond to violations after they occur — not prevent them
- Budget constraints: Purchasing dedicated cross-connection control software is often outside municipal IT budgets
The FlowCert Advantage
FlowCert's portal solves all four problems simultaneously — and it's free for water authorities. The cost is borne by the testers who use FlowCert to generate reports, creating a sustainable model where better tools for testers automatically produce better data for regulators.
Compliance Metrics at a Glance
The portal dashboard gives authority staff instant answers to their most common questions:
- How many devices are in my jurisdiction? — Total registered assemblies count
- What's our compliance rate? — Percentage of devices with current, passing test results
- Which devices are overdue? — Filterable list of assemblies past their testing deadline
- Which properties have never been tested? — Identifies gaps in the compliance program
- How many tests were filed this month? — Track testing activity trends over time
Security and Data Privacy
The authority portal is designed with municipal security requirements in mind:
- Token-based access: Each portal uses a unique, revocable access token — no passwords to manage
- Read-only: Authority staff can view data but cannot modify test results or device records
- Jurisdiction-scoped: Each portal only displays data from devices within that authority's registered city and ZIP codes
- No PII exposure: The portal shows device and property data, not tester or property owner personal information
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the authority portal really free?
Yes. FlowCert provides the authority portal at no cost to water utilities and municipalities. The platform is funded by backflow testers who pay for report generation. Better data for authorities is a natural byproduct of better tools for testers.
What if testers in my jurisdiction don't use FlowCert?
The portal displays data from FlowCert users. As adoption grows in your area, coverage improves automatically. Many authorities accelerate adoption by recommending FlowCert to their certified testers — since it makes compliance easier for everyone.
Can we export data from the portal?
Data export functionality is on our roadmap. Currently, the portal provides real-time viewing and filtering. For bulk data needs, contact our team and we can provide formatted exports.
How do we get our portal set up?
Contact FlowCert at flowcert.co or reach out through our website. Setup typically takes less than 24 hours — we just need your jurisdiction name, city boundaries, and a contact email for your cross-connection control program.