Veterinary clinics are regulated through California’s cross-connection control framework and each local water purveyor’s program.
Veterinary clinics (general practice, urgent care, specialty/referral, surgery centers, boarding/daycare with medical services) are commonly treated as moderate-to-high hazard commercial premises for cross-connection control because they routinely involve:
- biological contaminants (animal bodily fluids, pathogens, waste handling)
- disinfectants/sterilants and cleaning chemicals
- frequent hose use for washdown and kennel cleaning
- imaging and lab equipment (varies by facility)
- sterilizers/autoclaves and instrument processing in surgical practices
In California, requirements are implemented through:
- CCR Title 17 (cross-connection control expectations as adopted/implemented by water purveyors)
- The State Water Board Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH) (statewide minimum program expectations)
- Each local water purveyor’s cross-connection control program (hazard evaluation, device selection, enforcement)
Most water purveyors require premises containment for veterinary clinics—often RP—especially where kennels, washdown, chemical use, surgery, or labs exist.
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 Veterinary Clinic backflow installation, testing, repair compliance requirements.
Call for Your Free Veterinary Clinic Compliance Review to Qualify for
Installation Warranty, Best Value Testing, Repair Coverage & Multi-Device Discounts
Installing, testing and repair of backflow preventer devices in Veterinary Clinics is a critical component of California’s commitment to water quality protection from commercial properties connected to a public potable water system. Veterinary clinic cross connection and backflow prevention responsibilities are governed by and subject to CCR Title 17 cross-connection control expectations (as administered by water purveyors), The State Water Board’s Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH) (statewide minimum
program expectations), the local water purveyor cross-connection programs (hazard classification, device selection, enforcement), and California state plumbing code and equipment manufacturer requirements (air gaps/indirect waste, device-specific protections).
Veterinary Clinic owners and lessees are responsible for installation, testing, repair, and ongoing compliance.
Hiring Southern California's preferred certified backflow installation, testing and repair specialist to perform your Veterinary Clinic backflow prevention installation, testing and repair is key to ensuring compliance with state and municipal water department regulations.
Backflow Test Pros is 100% dedicated to ensuring your property meets local Veterinary Clinic 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 Veterinary Clinic 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.
In California, veterinary clinic 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.
The installation, inspection and testing of veterinary clinic backflow preventer devices are essential for ensuring the safety of drinking water from contamination by moderate to high hazard facilities at veterinary clinic properties.
Understanding the types of veterinary clinic property backflow installation, testing, and maintenance requirements helps you avoid civil liabilities and ensures water safety compliance.
Backflow Risk at Veterinary Clinics Arise from the Following Facility Features:
Vet facilities commonly have risk conditions that drive more protective assemblies:
- Kennel washdown hoses and floor drains near contaminated areas (backsiphonage risk)
- Mop sinks / janitorial closets with chemical mixing and submerged hoses
- Surgical suites with instrument cleaning and sterilization
- Onsite labs (blood/urine testing, sample handling, reagents)
- Imaging (including dental radiography; chemical processing is less common today but still possible)
- Grooming/bathing areas (often connected to hose sprayers)
- Boarding/daycare operations with frequent high-volume washdown
Where these are present, many purveyors classify the premises as a health hazard, driving RP-level containment.
Veterinary Clinics Typicall Require the Following Minimum Level Backflow Risk Protections
A. Premises Containment at the Potable Service Connection
- RP (Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly) installed as close as practical to the service connection/meter.
Why RP is common for vet clinics:
- Protects against both backsiphonage and backpressure
- Used where the consequence of contamination is significant and where internal plumbing complexity/hose practices make hazards difficult to fully control
Smaller “office-style” vet clinics (no kennels, no washdown, minimal chemicals) may occasionally be assigned a lower hazard classification by some purveyors, but many still require RP because veterinary use typically implies biological hazard potential.
B. Fire Service Lines (If Present)
- DCDA/DCVA sometimes allowed for “clean” systems
- RPDA/RP required where additives exist or where the purveyor treats the overall premises as high hazard
C. Irrigation (If Present)
- PVB or RP depending on design
- RP common if chemical injection/booster pumps or higher hazard is identified
Even with Premise-Level Containment installed, vet clinics usually need strong internal controls because most backflow events arise from hose connections and operational practices.
Many Water Agencies and Plumbing Codes Require Internal (Point-of-Use) Protection Within Veterinary Clinics
A. Hose Connections (High Priority)
Typical requirements/best practices:
- All hose bibbs in kennel, washdown, grooming, and utility areas should be protected against backsiphonage, typically with:
- hose bibb vacuum breakers (HBVB), or
- approved anti-siphon hose bibbs
- Hoses should never be left submerged in mop buckets, sinks, tubs, or drains.
B. Janitorial / Mop Sinks and Chemical Mixing
- Chemical feeders, proportioners, and mixing stations often require approved backflow protection (commonly an RP or an air gap, depending on the setup).
- Submerged inlet hoses to mop sinks are a frequent violation and risk point.
C. Sterilizers / Autoclaves / Instrument Reprocessors (Surgical Practices)
- Verify manufacturer requirements and plumbing code requirements for backflow protection and indirect waste (often favoring air gaps for waste connections).
- Purveyors may require additional protection if devices are hard-piped and represent a hazard.
D. Laboratory Equipment (If Present)
- Certain analyzers, aspirators, and washer units may require device-level protection depending on connection type and chemical use.5. Installation Requirements (Common Water Purveyor Standards)
Veterinary Facility Backflow Preventionn Enforcement & Penalties
Veterinary facilities are often treated as “sensitive” sites, so purveyors may enforce compliance aggressively and require rapid correction. Local water purveyors typically:
- issue notices and compliance deadlines
- assess administrative penalties
- require cross-connection surveys/inspections
- terminate water service for failure to install/test/maintain required assemblies or for unresolved cross-connections
Additional Civil Liabilities
Property owners and veterinary clinic owner 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 veterinary clinics are treated as as moderate-to-high hazard commercial premises for cross-connection control, it is important that you perform an extensive cross connection and backflow prevention compliance review to avoid penalties, water disruptions and civil liabilities.
Common Vet-Clinic Risk Areas That Trigger Enforcement
- kennel washdown hoses without vacuum breakers
- submerged hoses in mop sinks/buckets
- chemical proportioners and disinfectant mixing stations
- grooming tubs and hose sprayers
- any auxiliary water sources (rare but important if present)
- plumbing modifications during tenant improvement buildouts that bypass protection
Call Us for Your Free Veterinary Clinic Compliance Review to Ensure
You are Not in Violation State or Local Backflow Prevention Requirements
1. Confirm hazard classification with your water purveyor (often health hazard for clinics with kennels/washdown).
2. Install required containment assembly (commonly RP) at the service connection.
3. Ensure all hose bibbs in kennel/grooming/utility areas have vacuum breakers.
4. Verify chemical mixing/proportioning stations have appropriate protection (often RP or air-gap arrangement depending on setup).
5. Test assemblies annually, and after install/repair/relocation.
6. Submit reports on time and maintain compliance records.
7. Repair failures immediately and retest.
8. Re-evaluate protections after remodels, new kennels, grooming additions, surgery suite expansion, or lab installations.
