AWWA Backflow Prevention Assembly Testing: Key
Procedures and Troubleshooting questions and
verified answers (detailed & elaborated) ACTUAL
EXAM 2025 TESTS!!
When testing a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, there is intermittent spitting
from the relief valve. What is the possible cause of the spitting?
Ans: supply pressure fluctuations
When testing the air inlet of a pressure vacuum breaker the hose(s) on the test kit shall be connected in
this manner:
Ans: High side hose to the #2 testcock
When testing the #1 check valve of a double check valve assembly you have opened the #3 testcock to
the atmosphere. The water recedes from the sight tube. How do you proceed?
Ans: Lower the test kit to the centerline of the assembly; record the reading as the static pressure drop
across the #1 check valve. Note that the #2 check valve and the #2 shut off valve are leaking and
terminate the test.
As you move water from the high side of the #1 check valve to the low side of the #2 check valve of a
reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, the indicator on the test kit falls to the low
,end of the scale and the differential pressure relief valve discharges a continuous stream of water. How
do you proceed?
Ans: Open the low side bleed needle valve to re-establish differential pressure above the apparent
differential pressure to give the #2 check a second chance.
When testing a double check valve assembly and the #1 check valve fails you may proceed in the
following manner:
Ans: Fail the #1 check valve and continue to test the #2 check valve
The correct procedure to test the #1 check valve of a double check valve assembly is to:
Ans: Install the bleed arrangement on the #2 testcock before purging air from the test kit
As you start to test the air inlet on a pressure vacuum breaker you close the #2 shut off valve, raise your
test kit to the appropriate elevation and close the #1 shut off valve. You open the high side bleed needle
valve one quarter turn. Water continues to discharge from the high side bleed needle valve and the
indicator on your test kit remains at the high side of the scale. How do you proceed?
Ans: Open the #1 testcock to compensate for a leaking #1 shut off valve.
Regarding question #4, after you have opened the low side bleed needle valve and re-established the
differential pressure above the apparent differential pressure, you close the low side bleed needle valve.
Now you test kit indicates an acceptable value for the actual differential pressure across the #1 check
valve. How do you proceed?
Ans: Accept the value as the actual differential pressure across the #1 check valve
, When testing the #2 check valve of a double check valve assembly you open the #4 testcock. Water
continues to discharge from the sight tube and the bleed valve arrangement, after you have opened the
bleed valve arrangement completely on the #3 testcock. How do you proceed?
Ans: Close the bleed valve arrangement and open the #2 testcock to compensate for a leaking #1 shut
off valve
When testing the #2 check valve of a double check valve assembly you open the #4 testcock. The water
in the sight tube recedes. How do you proceed?
Ans: Lower the test kit to the centerline of the assembly and record the reading on the test kit noting
the #2 shut off valve is leaking with demand.
When testing the #1 check valve of a double check valve assembly it is necessary to use the bleed valve
arrangement to compensate for a leaking #1 shut off valve. The static pressure drop across the #1 check
valve as indicated by the test kit is 0.6 psid. How do you proceed
Ans: you cannot continue the test until the #1 check valve has been repaired.
If the appropriate action is taken regarding question #7 and only a slight amount of water discharges
from the valve that is open but then stops, how do you proceed?
Ans: Note that the #2 shut off valve is leaking with backpressure and terminate the test
When testing a spill resistant vacuum breaker you have closed the #2 shut off valve, positioned the test
kit at the appropriate elevation and closed the #1 shut off valve. You open the vent valve(skrew) and
then remove it completely. Water continues to Discharge from the vent valve (screw) How do you
proceed?
Procedures and Troubleshooting questions and
verified answers (detailed & elaborated) ACTUAL
EXAM 2025 TESTS!!
When testing a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, there is intermittent spitting
from the relief valve. What is the possible cause of the spitting?
Ans: supply pressure fluctuations
When testing the air inlet of a pressure vacuum breaker the hose(s) on the test kit shall be connected in
this manner:
Ans: High side hose to the #2 testcock
When testing the #1 check valve of a double check valve assembly you have opened the #3 testcock to
the atmosphere. The water recedes from the sight tube. How do you proceed?
Ans: Lower the test kit to the centerline of the assembly; record the reading as the static pressure drop
across the #1 check valve. Note that the #2 check valve and the #2 shut off valve are leaking and
terminate the test.
As you move water from the high side of the #1 check valve to the low side of the #2 check valve of a
reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, the indicator on the test kit falls to the low
,end of the scale and the differential pressure relief valve discharges a continuous stream of water. How
do you proceed?
Ans: Open the low side bleed needle valve to re-establish differential pressure above the apparent
differential pressure to give the #2 check a second chance.
When testing a double check valve assembly and the #1 check valve fails you may proceed in the
following manner:
Ans: Fail the #1 check valve and continue to test the #2 check valve
The correct procedure to test the #1 check valve of a double check valve assembly is to:
Ans: Install the bleed arrangement on the #2 testcock before purging air from the test kit
As you start to test the air inlet on a pressure vacuum breaker you close the #2 shut off valve, raise your
test kit to the appropriate elevation and close the #1 shut off valve. You open the high side bleed needle
valve one quarter turn. Water continues to discharge from the high side bleed needle valve and the
indicator on your test kit remains at the high side of the scale. How do you proceed?
Ans: Open the #1 testcock to compensate for a leaking #1 shut off valve.
Regarding question #4, after you have opened the low side bleed needle valve and re-established the
differential pressure above the apparent differential pressure, you close the low side bleed needle valve.
Now you test kit indicates an acceptable value for the actual differential pressure across the #1 check
valve. How do you proceed?
Ans: Accept the value as the actual differential pressure across the #1 check valve
, When testing the #2 check valve of a double check valve assembly you open the #4 testcock. Water
continues to discharge from the sight tube and the bleed valve arrangement, after you have opened the
bleed valve arrangement completely on the #3 testcock. How do you proceed?
Ans: Close the bleed valve arrangement and open the #2 testcock to compensate for a leaking #1 shut
off valve
When testing the #2 check valve of a double check valve assembly you open the #4 testcock. The water
in the sight tube recedes. How do you proceed?
Ans: Lower the test kit to the centerline of the assembly and record the reading on the test kit noting
the #2 shut off valve is leaking with demand.
When testing the #1 check valve of a double check valve assembly it is necessary to use the bleed valve
arrangement to compensate for a leaking #1 shut off valve. The static pressure drop across the #1 check
valve as indicated by the test kit is 0.6 psid. How do you proceed
Ans: you cannot continue the test until the #1 check valve has been repaired.
If the appropriate action is taken regarding question #7 and only a slight amount of water discharges
from the valve that is open but then stops, how do you proceed?
Ans: Note that the #2 shut off valve is leaking with backpressure and terminate the test
When testing a spill resistant vacuum breaker you have closed the #2 shut off valve, positioned the test
kit at the appropriate elevation and closed the #1 shut off valve. You open the vent valve(skrew) and
then remove it completely. Water continues to Discharge from the vent valve (screw) How do you
proceed?
