The City of Thousand Oaks has a well-established and robust backflow prevention program that helps ensure the safety of its public water supply.
Thousand Oaks 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 Thousand Oaks enforces backflow prevention and cross‑connection control to protect its potable water supply from contamination. These measures are adopted pursuant to State regulations (Title 17, CCR) and are integrated into the City’s Water Design and Construction Standards, under oversight of the City’s Cross Connection Control Officer.
2. Responsibilities of Property OwnersInstallation & Maintenance
The selection and installation of required backflow prevention devices (BPAs) must be approved by the City and are done at the property owner’s expense.
Devices must be properly maintained to remain functional and protective.
Annual Testing / Inspection: All BPAs must be tested annually by a certified tester.
Devices must also be inspected, repaired, or replaced as necessary to ensure proper operation.
Repairs & Replacements: If a BPA fails its annual test, the property owner must perform repairs or replacement.
If the owner fails or refuses, the City may contract testing or repair and bill the owner, and may shut off the water service after 30 days’ written notice.
Recordkeeping & Compliance: Property owners must keep records of tests, repairs, and maintenance, and make them available to the City’s Cross Connection Control Officer.
3. Scenarios Requiring Backflow Prevention Assemblies (BPAs)
Under Thousand Oaks code (Sec. 10‑2.607 Device requirements):
Any service connection with potential for harmful or objectionable substances entering the public system must be protected.
If premises have both public water and an auxiliary water supply, that auxiliary supply must be protected by a reduced pressure device (RP) or double check valve (DC), based on hazard severity.
Air gaps are required for premises handling toxic or dangerous materials under pressure, or at wastewater / pumping facilities.
Reduced pressure devices are mandatory in industrial/commercial facilities, hospitals, systems injecting chemicals, irrigation systems (unless protected by air gap or vacuum breaker), fire systems with chemicals, etc.
Double check valve assemblies are used where contaminants might affect taste, odor, or color but are not severe health hazards.
Double check detector valves are required on lines like fire service lines where no intermediate meter exists.
Additionally, for fire systems: Fire systems drawing from non-potable sources must be entirely separate from potable lines, or use approved backflow devices.
Class I & II fire systems (direct connection from public mains without tanks, chemicals, booster pumps) generally don’t require backflow devices.
Class III systems (with storage tanks or pumps) typically require double check valves.
Classes IV, V, VI (with auxiliary water supply or additives) require reduced pressure or double check devices depending on water quality.
4. Testing & Maintenance Requirements
Annual Testing / Inspection: All installed BPAs must be tested at least once per year by a certified tester.
Tests must verify that devices are functioning properly, and all valves, relief ports, and checks operate within acceptable tolerances.
Certified Testers: Tests must be conducted by a certified tester approved under City and State protocols.
Test Report Submission & Fees: Test results and repair documentation must be kept on record and presented to the City’s Cross Connection Control Officer upon request.
Failure to comply (test, repair, or submit results) is treated as a public nuisance under the City code.
Repairs & Retesting: If a device fails, repairs or replacement must be done promptly and the device retested before being returned to service.
The City may intervene and have the work done if the owner refuses, and charge the owner accordingly.
5. Approved Devices & Certified Testers
Approved Devices: Devices must meet standards consistent with State and City rules, and be approved by the City.
The choice between RP, DC, detector assemblies, or air gaps depends on the degree of hazard and application.
Certified Testers / Qualification: Testers must have valid certification recognized by the City and State.
Only certified testers are permitted to perform testing, repairs, and to submit official compliance reports. (Sec. 10‑2.604)
6. Enforcement & Penalties
Non-Compliance: If a property fails to install or maintain a required BPA or does not submit test reports, the City may treat the violation as a public nuisance. The City may hire a contractor to perform testing or repairs and then bill the property owner. The City may shut off water service after 30 days’ written notice if the owner fails to comply.
Service Interruption & Restoration: Water supply will not be restored until the deficiency (device installation, testing, repair, documentation) is corrected to the City’s satisfaction.
Other Remedies: The City may levy additional charges or fees as set by Council action for the cost of enforcement or services performed.
Thousand Oaks Water Authority Contact Info:
City of Thousand Oaks – Public Works
2100 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Tel: 805-449‑2400
