The City of Santa Paula has a well-established and robust backflow prevention program that helps ensure the safety of its public water supply.
Santa Paula 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.
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1. Scope & Authority
The City of Santa Paula enforces backflow prevention and cross‑connection control to safeguard its potable water supply from contamination. These rules are implemented under Municipal Code Chapter 60: Backflow and Cross-Connection Control, which cites authority from state law (including CCR Title 17 and other relevant California statutes).
The City’s Public Works Department (or Director / designee) administers the program, adopting standard details and procedures for device installation, testing, inspection, and enforcement.
2. Responsibilities of Property Owners
Installation & Maintenance: Property owners must install and maintain approved backflow prevention assemblies (BPAs) where required by the City (per Chapter 60). The device must comply with the city’s standard details and installation requirements (e.g. orientation, elevation, accessibility).
Annual Testing: The owner is responsible for arranging testing at least once per year by a tester who holds a City of Santa Paula business license and is certified by Ventura County Environmental Health Division (or equivalent) to test backflow assemblies.
In high‑hazard cases, the Director may require more frequent testing.
Repairs & Replacements: If a device fails, the owner must repair, overhaul, or replace the device immediately, and then retest it.
All costs (purchase, installation, repair, replacement, testing, maintenance) are borne by the customer/owner.
Recordkeeping & Report Submission: The owner keeps records of installations, tests, repairs, and overhauls. Copies of test results and related documentation are to be forwarded to Ventura County Environmental Health (or as required) and kept on file.
The Public Works Department retains such records for at least three years for audit or review by the health agency.
3. Scenarios Requiring Backflow Prevention Assemblies (BPAs)
Under Santa Paula’s code, the following uses/facilities are required to install and maintain particular types of backflow prevention assemblies (often the “Reduced Pressure Principle (RPP)” type) unless otherwise approved:
Some of the required scenarios include:
Aircraft, automotive, rail, or missile plants
Animal clinics, grooming, boarding facilities
Apartment or office complexes with ponds/fountains
Auto repair shops using steam cleaning, acid, solvents
Auxiliary water systems or wells, known cross-connections
Hotels, buildings with booster pumps or elevated storage
Chemical processing, laboratories, plating works, paper processing
Landscaping beyond single‑family dwellings (e.g. drip systems)
Restaurants, commercial kitchens
Vehicle washing facilities
Fire protection / sprinkler systems (as per code § 60.09)
Reclaimed water systems or premises where potable lines supplement reclaimed systems
Other commercial or industrial applications with risk of contamination
The code also includes that no water service shall be maintained unless the potable supply is protected and a BPA is installed where required.
4. Testing & Maintenance Requirements
Annual Testing:
Every BPA must be tested at least once per year by a qualified tester.
Devices must also be tested upon installation, repair, or relocation.
Certified Testers:
The tester must possess a City of Santa Paula business license and be certified by Ventura County Environmental Health Division (or the designated health agency).
The code also includes qualification and certification requirements (Chapter 60 § 60.14) for individuals who inspect and maintain BPAs.
Submitting Test Reports & Fees:
Test results must be forwarded to the relevant health agency / county (e.g. Ventura County EHD) and the City, per the program’s instructions.
Santa Paula uses BSI Online as the primary point of contact/portal for cross-connection / backflow tracking, where test reports are submitted.
The City may issue a notice if a BPA must be installed, with a deadline for installation and test result submission.
Repair & Retesting:
A device found defective must be repaired or replaced immediately, then retested.
No device shall be placed back in service unless it functions correctly as tested.
5. Approved Devices & Certified Testers
Approved Devices: Devices must conform to standards recognized by the City, such as those from the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control.
Devices must be installed per the City’s standard details and must not be bypassed or undermined by unauthorized piping.
Certified Testers: Testers must hold a valid City of Santa Paula business license and be certified by Ventura County EHD.
Chapter 60 includes language on certification and qualification of backflow inspectors and maintainers.
6. Enforcement & Penalties
Non-Compliance: The City will discontinue or refuse water service if a required backflow prevention assembly is not installed, maintained, tested, or if a cross-connection is found.
The premises must be open to survey and inspection by authorized City representatives (Public Works, Building & Safety, Code Enforcement, etc.).
If a violation or unsafe condition is detected, service may be physically suspended (e.g. a break in the service line) until compliance is achieved.
Service Interruption and Restoration Conditions: Water service will not be resumed until full compliance is met, i.e. proper installation, testing, and documentation of required BPAs.
Remedies, Notices & Penalties: The City may issue written notices requiring installation, with deadlines for compliance, and termination of service for failure.
Repeated non-compliance, failure to submit test results timely, or removal/bypass of devices are grounds for administrative enforcement and penalties, per Chapter 60’s remedies section.
Santa Paula Water Authority Contact Info:
City of Santa Paula – Water Division
180 South Palm Avenue
Santa Paula, CA 93060
Tel: 805-933‑4282
