CROSS CONNECTION & BACKFLOW PREVENTION
The team at California American Water works every day to help ensure safe, high-quality water is available to our customers, but everyone shares responsibility for protecting our drinking water. The State Water Resources Control Boards - Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook, California Plumbing Code, and local regulations require all customers served by a public water system to prevent potential contamination by complying with these regulations. As your water purveyor, California American Water must enforce these regulatory requirements to ensure safe, high-quality water is available to our customers. Backflow, which occurs when water from private plumbing enters the public water system, can be prevented by installing and maintaining backflow prevention devices on water service lines and is required for customers whose private plumbing poses an actual or potential risk of backflow contamination into the drinking water system.
In California, state regulations require annual testing of backflow prevention devices, regardless of property occupancy.
What is a Cross-Connection?
A Cross-Connection is any physical link between a potable water supply and a source of non-potable liquid, solid, or gas that could contaminate drinking water.
What is Backflow?
Backflow is an undesired or unintended reversal of the flow of water and/or other liquids, gases, or other substances into a public water system’s distribution system or approved water supply. There are two types: backpressure and backsiphonage.
- Backpressure occurs when the pressure from a contaminant source exceeds the pressure in the water distribution main. For example, if a drinking water main is connected to an unprotected hot water boiler system and the boiler pressure increases, backflow into the drinking water supply may occur.
- Backsiphonage occurs when negative pressure develops in the water distribution system, similar to sipping water through a straw. This can happen during a water main break or when a hydrant is used for firefighting.
What is Backflow Prevention Assembly?
A Backflow Prevention Assembly or “BPA” is a mechanical assembly designed and constructed to prevent backflow, such that while in-line it can be maintained and its ability to prevent backflow, as designed, can be field tested, inspected and evaluated.
Why should you be concerned?
Backflow can compromise drinking water quality and pose health risks if contaminated water enters your plumbing system and is used for drinking, cooking, or bathing. While most backflow events do not cause health hazards, unprotected cross-connections are prohibited. Everyone is responsible for protecting the water supply by complying with state and local plumbing codes and by avoiding unprotected cross-connections.
Who is responsible?
Responsibility for preventing backflow is shared. State and local plumbing inspectors oversee plumbing within buildings, while state agencies and public water suppliers regulate protection at service connections. Water customers must maintain their plumbing systems, prevent unprotected cross-connections, and ensure that, if required, backflow prevention devices are tested and kept in working order annually, as required by state regulations.
Preventing backflow situations in your home and business
- Identify and eliminate or isolate cross connections.
- Maintain air gaps at sinks and when using hoses.
- Do not submerge hoses or place them where submersion could occur.
- Use hose bib vacuum breakers on fixtures such as hose connections in basements, laundry rooms, and outdoor faucets.
- Install approved backflow prevention devices if lawn irrigation and fire sprinkler systems are present at the service connection directly behind the meter unless approved by a California American Water Cross-Connection Specialist. The required device type depends on the potential hazard level: high, moderate, or low, and local jurisdiction requirements.
Failure to comply may result in the disconnection of water service after repeated requests from our Cross Connection Department.
Contact Information
Sacramento
Please contact Ashley Stahl at Environmental.Sac@amwater.com or 916-568-4262.4701 Beloit Drive, Sacramento, CA 95838
Certified backflow testers for Sacramento County
Larkfield-Geyserville
Please contact Patrick Dirrane at Environmental.Sonoma@amwater.com or
707-542-8329.4787 Old Redwood Hwy, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Certified backflow testers for the City of Santa Rosa
Hillview-Meadowbrook
Please contact Bonnie Boswell at Environmental.MM@amwater.com or 559-760-8322.
Hillview - 40312 Greenwood Way, Oakhurst, CA 93644Meadowbrook - 2272 Meadowbrook Ave. Merced, Ca 95348
A list of commonly used backflow testers in Merced and Madera Counties can be provided per request.
San Diego
Please contact Matthew Schuler at matthew.schuler@amwater.com or 619-446-5713.
Ventura
Please contact Neiva Proctor at Neiva.Corona@amwater.com or 805-454-0901.
Los Angeles
Please contact Aimee Baker at aimee.baker@amwater.com or 626-614-2544.
Monterey
Please contact Aidan Klaver at Aidan.Klaver@amwater.com or 831-915-7883.
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