The City of El Cerrito has a well-established and robust backflow prevention program that helps ensure the safety of its public water supply.
El Cerrito property owners are responsible for installing, testing, and maintaining backflow prevention devices and must comply with the city's requirements to avoid penalties. Ensuring timely testing, maintenance, and repair of backflow devices is crucial for protecting both individual properties and the public water system. Non-compliance can result in fines, civil liabilities and the disruption of water service.
With Backflow Test Pros' Managed Backflow Testing & Maintenance service, there is no need for El Cerrito businesses and homeowners to spend hours going over county and local water utility regulations, ordinances, requirements, deadlines, fees, guidelines, reporting schedules and forms.
Everything is Done for You to simplify the backflow maintenance process and ensure compliance with local regulations.
Backflow Test Pros provides dedicated support in everything from initial scheduling, water department communications, due date tracking, same day approval, routine maintenance and urgent repairs.
As a Backflow Test Pros client you can rest assured knowing that your backflows assemblies are monitored and compliant with local water authority regulations.
Backflow Test Pros Turn-key Backflow Maintenance includes:
Relying on Backflow Testing Pros' licensed, certified and bonded professionals ensures that your backflow assembly installation, testing and repair is performed by certified cross connection control and backflow prevention experts in a timely manner conforming to backflow prevention testing, repair and installation protocols required by the City of El Cerrito State Water Board regulations and backflow prevention certification bodies.
With state-of-the-art diagnostics, tests, timely repairs, and proactive maintenance, we help commercial and residential customers in El Cerrito and across Southern California avoid costly civil liabilities, penalties and water service disruptions.
1. Scope & Authority
The water utility serving El Cerrito enforces a Cross‑Connection Control / Backflow Prevention Program to protect its potable water system from contamination due to backflow or cross‑connections. This program is based on the authority of California’s Code of Regulations, Title 17, and the jurisdiction’s applicable municipal or utility ordinance. The utility evaluates customer premises for cross-connection hazards and requires installation, testing, maintenance, and compliance with backflow prevention measures as a condition of service.
2. Responsibilities of Property Owners
Installation & Maintenance: Property owners are required to install and maintain approved backflow prevention assemblies at any service connection, internal plumbing point, or site location where a cross‑connection hazard is identified. Devices must be sized appropriately, located for accessibility, and installed to allow inspection, maintenance, and testing.
Annual Testing: Each backflow prevention assembly must be tested at least once per year by a certified backflow prevention tester. Testing is also mandatory at initial installation, after repair, replacement, relocation, or alteration. Test results must be submitted to the utility or oversight agency for compliance tracking.
Repairs & Replacements: If a backflow prevention assembly fails during testing, the property owner must promptly repair or replace it. After repair or replacement, the device must be retested and verified as functioning properly before being placed back into service.
3. Scenarios Requiring Backflow Prevention Assemblies (BPAs)
Backflow prevention devices are required in situations where there is potential for contamination or unsafe cross‑connections. Typical scenarios include irrigation or landscaping systems connected to potable water, fire protection / sprinkler systems, swimming pools, spas, or other hydrologic installations; properties with auxiliary or alternate water sources (e.g. wells, cisterns); commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities with processes that might introduce non‑potable substances; and temporary service connections such as construction water lines or hydrant meters. The type of device required (e.g. reduced pressure, double check, vacuum breaker, or air gap) depends on the level of hazard identified by the utility or health authority.
4. Testing & Maintenance Requirements
Mandatory Testing Events: All installed backflow prevention assemblies must be tested at least annually by a certified tester. In addition, testing is required at the time of installation, when a device is relocated, or when repair or modification has been done.
Certified Testers: Only individuals holding valid certification (e.g. via Riverside County or an approved certifying body) are permitted to perform backflow tests. Testers must maintain current credentials, use calibrated test instrumentation, and follow recognized test methods.
Submission of Test Reports: Completed test reports and maintenance logs must be submitted to the utility or cross‑connection control division in the format required by the utility. The utility may issue reminders to property owners when tests are due. Late submission or failure to submit may result in penalties or enforcement.
Repairs / Replacements: If a device fails testing, repair or replacement must occur immediately. The repaired or replaced assembly must be retested to confirm proper functioning before being returned to service.
5. Approved Devices & Certified Testers
Approved Devices: Only backflow prevention assemblies meeting recognized industry design and performance standards are acceptable. The selection of the device (for example reduced pressure principle, double check, pressure vacuum breaker, or air gap) must correspond to the hazard classification of the premises. Devices should be testable (unless specifically exempted under utility rules) and appropriate for the intended application.
Certified Testers: Testing and repair work may only be executed by certified testers recognized by the utility or county authority. Testers must maintain valid credentials, use properly calibrated equipment, follow approved test procedures, and are the only parties authorized to submit compliance reports to the utility.
6. Enforcement & Penalties
Non‑Compliance: Failure to install, test, maintain, or properly report on required backflow prevention assemblies constitutes a violation of the utility’s cross‑connection control program. The utility or oversight authority may issue notices of noncompliance, require corrective actions, or impose penalties.
Water Service Interruption & Restoration: The utility may discontinue water service to properties that fail to comply with backflow prevention requirements. Service will not be restored until all required devices are properly installed, tested, repaired (if needed), and documented to the satisfaction of the utility.
Penalties: Additional penalties or fees may be imposed for late report submission, ignoring compliance notices, tampering with or bypassing backflow devices, or repeated violations. The utility may withhold new service connections, approve permits, or issue final inspections until full compliance under the cross‑connection control program is achieved.
El Cerrito Water Authority Contact Info:
Riverside Public Utilities
3901 Orange Street
Riverside, CA 92501
Tel: 951-782‑0330
