Gas/service stations are typically classified as high-hazard (health hazard) commercial sites because they commonly involve petroleum products, vehicle fluids, wash chemicals, pressure equipment, and frequent hose connections that can create backpressure or backsiphonage risks.
As a result, most California water purveyors require premises containment (service connection protection) at gas/service stations, in addition to any internal point-of-use protection.
As a bonded and insured licensed contractors and certified backflow testing professionals specializing in the installation, testing and repair of commercial backflow prevention assemblies, Backflow Test Pros guarantees top-tier workmanship at the most competitive rates, provides backflow repair coverage and includes 2-year installation warranty to help you meet and exceed your gas/service stations backflow installation, testing, repair compliance requirements.
Call for Your Free Gas Service Station Compliance Review to Qualify for
Installation Warranty, Best Value Testing, Repair Coverage & Multi-Device Discounts
Installing, testing and repair of backflow preventer devices in gas/service stations is a critical component of California’s commitment to water quality protection from commercial properties connected to a public potable water system.
Property owners and service station operators are responsible for installation, testing, repair, and ongoing compliance.
Common gas/service stations conditions that trigger a higher level of protection include:
- Hose bibbs and washdown hoses frequently used around oily/chemical environments
- Automotive service bays with fluid handling (oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, solvents)
- Car wash systems (especially reclaimed water, chemical injection, high pressure)
- Oil/water separator interfaces and sanitary/industrial drainage proximity
- Fuel system maintenance areas (even when not directly tied to potable lines)
- Booster pumps / pressure washers which can cause backpressure
- Chemical storage or mixing (windshield fluid, detergents, degreasers)
- Irrigation (often with fertilizer injection or connection to nonpotable sources)
Hiring a certified backflow tester to perform gas/service stations backflow prevention installation, testing and repair in a timely manner is key to ensuring compliance with state and municipal water department regulations.
Backflow Test Pros is 100% dedicated to ensuring your property meets local water authority gas/service stations backflow installation, testing and repair requirements so you can avoid civil penalties and ensure your water is not turned off for noncompliance.
Ensure you're fully compliant with specific city, county and water districts backflow prevention requirements
Ensure your backflow assembly installation clears local permitting requirements and plans approvals
Ensure your installed backflow device is USC FCCCHR approved and meets hazard level requirements
Free initial backflow certification testing, same-day report submittal and backflow repair coverage
We provide the best value in Gas/Service Station backflow prevention installations, testing and repair services by combining competitive pricing with premium service, warranty coverage and unmatched expertise.
Backflow Test Pros is an AWWA Certified Backflow Tester and Certified Backflow Tester with County Health Departments across Southern California. As a CA State licensed contractor and AWWA Certified backflow specialists, our team of experienced backflow experts work with County Health Boards and Municipal Water Departments throughout Southern California to protect our water and prevent backflow contamination.
The installation, inspection and testing of gas/service station backflow preventer devices are essential for ensuring the safety of drinking water from contamination by moderate to high hazard site features at gas/service stations.
In California, gas/service stations backflow preventer device installation, testing and repair is governed by a combination of state regulations and local ordinances, aiming to protect the public water supply from contamination.
Understanding the types of gas/service station backflow installation, testing, and maintenance requirements helps you avoid civil liabilities and ensures water safety compliance.
Backflow Risk at Gas/Service Stations that Trigger a High-Hazard Level of Protection:
- Hose bibbs and washdown hoses frequently used around oily/chemical environments
- Automotive service bays with fluid handling (oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, solvents)
- Car wash systems (especially reclaimed water, chemical injection, high pressure)
- Oil/water separator interfaces and sanitary/industrial drainage proximity
- Fuel system maintenance areas (even when not directly tied to potable lines)
- Booster pumps / pressure washers which can cause backpressure
- Chemical storage or mixing (windshield fluid, detergents, degreasers)
- Irrigation (often with fertilizer injection or connection to nonpotable sources)
Because these hazards are often present even if the site’s potable usage seems “domestic”, water agencies commonly require containment at the meter.
Typical Minimum Backflow Risk Protections for Gas/Service Stations
A. Premises Containment at the Water Service Connection (Most Common Requirement)
Typical requirement for a fueling/service station:
RP (Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly) installed immediately downstream of the meter (or at the service connection) as the minimum level of protection. An RP provides protection against both backsiphonage and backpressure and is generally required where health hazards may exist.
An RP may be required even if there’s “no car wash”
Many jurisdictions still require RP containment because:
- service bays, hose bibbs, washdown areas, and chemical storage create enough hazard
- inspection access may be limited or plumbing complexity makes “internal-only” protection unreliable
- the site use can change quickly (new equipment, tenant changes, added wash service)
B. Fire Service Lines (If Present)
If the station has a dedicated fire line, the required protection depends on site conditions:
- DCDA / DCVA (double check detector or assembly): sometimes allowed if the fire system is “clean,” no additives, and the water agency classifies it as non-health hazard.
- RPDA / RP: often required if there are additives, potential contamination risk, or if the overall premises hazard is high.
(Exact fire-line device choice is very agency-specific, but stations frequently end up with RP-level protectionsomewhere on the property.)
C. Irrigation Lines (If Present)
- Irrigation often requires PVB or RP, depending on the system configuration and hazard.
- If there is fertilizer/chemical injection, booster pumps, or connection to auxiliary/nonpotable sources, RP is commonly required.
D. Car Wash / Vehicle Wash Components (If Present)
This is often the highest hazard area on-site.
Typical required protections:
- RP on the potable feed to wash equipment (especially with chemical injection).
- Air gaps at chemical feed tanks or indirect waste connections (where applicable).
- Physical separation and approved backflow devices between potable and reclaimed water systems.
If reclaimed / recycled water is used:
- Water agencies frequently require strict separation, signage, and containment, plus additional verification (cross-connection testing where required).
Most Water Agencies and Plumbing Codes Require
Internal (Point-of-Use) Protection for Gas/Service Stations
Hose Bibbs / Washdown Connections
- Use hose bibb vacuum breakers or approved anti-siphon hose bibbs.
- Prohibit submerged hoses in buckets, mop sinks, or chemical containers.
Service Bay Equipment
- Ensure pressure washers, parts washers, and chemical dispensers have appropriate backflow protection (often RPor air gap, depending on configuration).
- Avoid direct connections to tanks/vats without an air gap or approved protection.
Chemical Feed / Mixing Tanks
- Prefer air gaps for make-up water lines feeding chemical tanks where feasible.
Service Station Backflow Prevention Violation Enforcement & Penalties
Because gas/service stations are usually considered high hazard, agencies tend to enforce compliance aggressively. Most water purveyors have authority to:
- issue notices of violation
- levy fees for late testing or administrative enforcement
- require immediate hazard correction
- terminate water service for failure to install/test/maintain required assemblies
- require onsite inspection and cross-connection surveys (especially after noncompliance)
Additional Civil Liabilities
Property owners and service station operators are exposed to additional civil liabilities resulting from contamination in the event of failure to prevent backflow into the potable water resources used by other parties.
Because service stations typically have many High-Risk backflow containment conditions, it is important that you perform an extensive cross connection and backflow prevention compliance review to avoid penalties, water disruptions and civil liabilities.
Call Us for Your Free Service Station Backflow Compliance Review to Ensure
You are Not in Violation State or Local Backflow Prevention Requirements
1. Confirm water purveyor’s required containment device type (often RP).
2. Verify fire line protection requirements (DCDA vs RPDA/RP).
3. Identify high-hazard station components: washdown hoses, service bays, chemical injection, car wash, reclaim systems.
4. Ensure devices are approved, accessible, correctly installed, and protected from flooding.
5. Test annually and after any install/repair/relocation.
6. Submit test reports on time via the required method.
7. Repair failures immediately and retest.
8. Keep compliance records (tests, repairs, replacement documentation).
