What Backflow Solutions does

Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI) is a privately held, bootstrapped software and services company founded in 2002 that provides cloud-based backflow prevention and cross-connection control program management to water purveyors, municipalities, and certified backflow testers across North America. Its flagship product, BSI Online, is a SaaS platform hosted on AWS that automates tester credential verification, pass/fail computation per state standards, automated notification mailing, real-time compliance dashboards, and electronic test report submission via smart forms. BSI holds the US Patent for the concept of cloud-based backflow management software and service, and bundles the platform with a 75+ person in-house onshore customer service operation that handles stakeholder inquiries, mailings, and data administration on behalf of clients. The company operates through two legal entities—Backflow Solutions, Inc. (Illinois) and BSI Online ULC (British Columbia)—and supplements the core platform with add-on modules for F.O.G. (fats, oils, grease) program management, cross-connection control surveys, final/failed notices, and expert consulting, as well as an educational arm called Backflow Academy.

The business model combines an annual software subscription (starting at $995, with full-service contracts around $2,495 for larger municipalities) with usage-based per-test filing fees of $15.95 charged to testing companies. Go-to-market is sales-led via dedicated account managers and regional sales representatives, supplemented by a referral program, lunch-and-learn events, SEO/content marketing, and partnerships with industry bodies such as AWWA, ASSE International, USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control, TREEO, and NRWA. BSI reports serving municipalities in 38 states and provinces, with notable customers including the City of Boca Raton, City of Durham, City of Flagstaff, Elsinore Valley Water District, Town of Clayton (which reports ~99% monthly compliance), and enterprise accounts such as Langham Hotels and Prologis. The company has related operating entities Chicago Backflow (CBI) and Red Star Inspections, indicating vertical integration into inspection services alongside the software platform.

Name

Backflow Solutions

Legal name

Backflow Solutions, Inc.

Website

https://backflow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Backflow Solutions (BSI) provides a patented cloud-based SaaS platform, BSI Online, that automates backflow prevention compliance, tester credential verification, and notification management for water purveyors, municipalities, and certified testers across the US and Canada, supported by an in-house onshore customer service team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility Compliance Software

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210), Business Support Services (5614)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)

akta.pro primary industry

Backflow Compliance Management & Reporting (Permits, Forms, Scheduling) (HSAOALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Backflow Training & Program Consulting (For Facilities & Water Systems) (HSAOALAJ)

Keywords

• Backflow management software
• Cross-connection control
• Water utility compliance
• Backflow tracking platform
• Backflow prevention administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Alsip

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Annual Software Subscription: Water purveyors pay an annual subscription fee for access to the BSI Online platform, including cloud-based data management, automated notifications, reporting tools, and customer support. Pricing starts at $995.00 annually for the core program.
2. Test Report Filing Fees: Backflow assembly testers pay a $15.95 filing fee for each test report submitted through the BSI Online platform. This usage-based revenue stream scales with the number of tests processed.
3. Per-Test Service Fees: Additional per-test fees are charged for services beyond the annual subscription, including notifications and testing result uploads for commercial and industrial customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Backflow Solutions develops and operates BSI Online, a patented cloud-based backflow data management platform that automates test submission, compliance tracking, notification letter generation, and tester credential verification for water purveyors and municipalities across North America. The company supplements the platform with administrative services (letter generation and mailing), F.O.G. program management, cross-connection surveys, expert consulting, and Backflow Academy training.

Product overview

Backflow Solutions (BSI) offers BSI Online as its core cloud-based backflow data management platform, which provides automated test submission, real-time compliance tracking, credential verification, and stakeholder notifications for water purveyors and municipalities. The platform is complemented by additional service modules including F.O.G. Program Management for grease trap compliance, Cross-Connection Control Surveys for hazard identification, Final and Failed Notices for automated follow-ups, and Expert Consulting for ordinance and technical support. Education is delivered through Backflow Academy. The complete solution is priced at $995 annually with per-test filing fees of $15.95.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chicago Backflow (CBI): Backflow inspection and testing services operating in the Chicago metropolitan area.
• Red Star Inspections
• BSI Online ULC

Products and services

• BSI Online Cloud-based backflow data management platform that automates test tracking, notifications, compliance reporting, and tester credential verification for water purveyors and municipalities. Pricing starts at $995 annually plus $15.95 per test report filing fee.
• F.O.G. Program Management Fats, Oils, and Grease (F.O.G.) management program that helps municipalities protect water systems through inventory tracking, notifications, and manifest viewing capabilities.
• Cross-Connection Control Surveys Survey service that identifies potential hazards in water systems, available as a turnkey service or guidance-only option for water purveyors.
• Final and Failed Notices Automated additional notice service that sends failed-device notifications and follow-up notices beyond the standard two notifications for water purveyors.
• Expert Consulting Professional consulting services including ordinance review, technical backflow questions, industry best practices, and assistance with state reporting requirements for water utilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Compliance rates improved to approximately 99% monthly for some municipalities (e.g., Town of Clayton, NC)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• First Service Residential (via Vive platform)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Partnership through Vive platform allows BSI to be a preferred vendor for First Service Residential, a large property management company in Illinois.
• USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe USC Foundation helps members stay current with the non-stop development and expansion of cross-connection control information. This is vital to those involved in protecting the potable water supply through backflow prevention and cross-connection control.
• TREEO Center (University of Florida)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining, research, and education for environmental occupations. TREEO equips essential workers with the skills and certifications they need to succeed. Programs cover critical areas like wastewater and water operations, backflow prevention, and safety compliance.
• American Water Works Association (AWWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AWWA is the largest organization of water supply professionals in the world with 50,000 members representing the full spectrum of the water community: water and wastewater systems, environmental advocates, scientists, academicians, and others who hold a genuine interest in water.
• ASSE InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor more than 115 years, ASSE International has brought the industry together to improve the performance and reliability of products and professionals. By working together, they protect the health and safety of the public.
• National Rural Water Association (NRWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NRWA is a non-profit organization dedicated to training, supporting, and promoting the water and wastewater professionals that serve small communities across the United States. The mission is to strengthen State Associations.
• Municipal Water Utility PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBSI partners with municipalities and water purveyors across North America including Veolia, Vancouver, Smyrna, Region of Durham, Plano, Liberty, Huntsville, Garden City, Flagstaff, Evanston, Durham, Wisconsin Dells, Cleveland, Clemson, Cedar Rapids, and Beverly Hills to provide comprehensive backflow data management solutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sedaru: Sedaru provides cloud-based water and wastewater utility management software serving municipalities. Like BSI, it targets water purveyors with workflow automation, asset data, and compliance tools, making it a direct competitor for the same buyer with overlapping functional scope.

Broad incumbents

• Tyler Technologies: Tyler Technologies is a large public-sector software provider selling ERP, utility billing, and citizen services to municipalities across the US. While not a backflow specialist, Tyler competes for the same municipal IT budget and could add a backflow module to its utility suite, representing a horizontal threat to BSI's standalone niche.
• AssetWorks: AssetWorks provides enterprise asset management and facilities management software to government and infrastructure operators. Its platform overlaps with BSI's compliance and inspection tracking workflows and is sold into the same municipal/government buyer, positioning it as a broader incumbent peer.
• Innovyze (an Autodesk company): Innovyze, now part of Autodesk, sells InfoMaster and related hydraulic/asset management software to water and wastewater utilities globally. It targets the same municipal water customer as BSI with a broader infrastructure modeling and asset management suite.
• Accela: Accela is a government technology platform providing permitting, licensing, and asset management solutions to state and local agencies. It is a broader incumbent that could absorb backflow/cross-connection permitting into its civic workflow suite.

Emerging players

• HydrantHub: HydrantHub provides water utility field operations and asset management software with mobile-first workflows. It is a smaller, emerging peer serving a similar municipal water buyer with overlapping inspection and compliance use cases.
• Cimple (now part of Itonis): Cimple offers cloud-based water utility management software focused on small and mid-sized water systems, including compliance and customer service workflows. It overlaps with BSI's core backflow and customer management functionality for the same small-to-mid municipality segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/backflowsolutions

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Backflow Solutions