The City of Ventura has a well-established and robust backflow prevention program that helps ensure the safety of its public water supply.
Ventura 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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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 Ventura 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 Ventura and across Southern California avoid costly civil liabilities, penalties and water service disruptions.
1. Scope & Authority
The City of Ventura / Ventura Water enforces backflow prevention and cross‑connection control measures to protect its potable water system from contamination. These measures are required under the Cross‑Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH) adopted by the California State Water Resources Control Board. Ventura Water has updated its Backflow Assembly Testing Program to align with CCCPH standards.
Beginning April 15, 2025, Ventura Water requires that all backflow prevention assembly test results be uploaded via a web portal (BSI Online).
2. Responsibilities of Property Owners
Installation & Maintenance: Property owners must install and maintain approved backflow prevention assemblies (BPAs) or other protective measures wherever a cross-connection or hazard may exist on their premises. The protective device must be properly sized, located, and accessible for testing and maintenance.
Annual Testing: BPAs must be tested at least once per year. They must also be tested (or inspected) at the time of installation, after any repairs, or after relocation.
Ventura sends customers an annual notice with a testing due date.
Repairs & Replacements: If a backflow prevention assembly fails testing, the property owner must have it repaired or replaced. After repair, the device must be retested to confirm compliance.
Reporting: Testers must submit completed test reports via the BSI Online portal. Ventura Water customers’ backflow test results are no longer submitted to Ventura County Environmental Health for properties served by Ventura Water.
Owners should maintain records of tests, repairs, and maintenance, and present them to the water utility or inspectors upon request.
3. Scenarios Requiring Backflow Prevention Assemblies (BPAs)
The City requires BPAs in situations where there is a risk of non‑potable water, chemicals, or other contaminants entering the potable system. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Irrigation systems, especially those with chemical injection or booster pumps.
Fire protection / sprinkler systems (particularly when such systems may draw non‑potable or treated water
Swimming pools / spas
Auxiliary / alternate water sources, such as wells, cisterns, rainwater harvesting, or greywater systems
Commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities where processes involve hazards or potential contamination
The precise type of BPA (reduced pressure, double check, vacuum breaker, detector types, etc.) depends on the hazard classification as determined by the utility and the CCCPH guidelines.
4. Testing & Maintenance Requirements
Annual Testing / Inspection: Each BPA must be tested at least once per year, plus additional required tests upon installation, repair, or relocation.
Certified Testers: Test As of July 1, 2025, Ventura Water will require that all backflow testers hold certification from an ANSI‑accredited organization (such as AWWA) in compliance with state CCCPH standards.
Test Report Submission & Fees: Test results must be submitted via BSI Online. Late submissions or failure to test may incur late fees or other penalties.
Repairs & Retesting: A BPA that fails must be repaired or replaced immediately, followed by retesting to confirm compliance before returning to service.
5. Approved Devices & Certified Testers
Approved Devices: nly backflow prevention assemblies approved by recognized standards (such as those meeting design, performance, and testing criteria suitable under CCCPH) should be used. Devices must be “testable” (other than certain vacuum breakers that are non-testable but acceptable depending on application). Ventura Water’s program requires compliance with state and utility specifications.
Certified Testers: Testers must hold a valid certification from an ANSI‑accredited organization starting July 1, 2025. Only such certified testers are permitted to submit test results to Ventura Water’s system.
6. Enforcement & Penalties
Non‑Compliance: If a property fails to test, maintain, or properly document its backflow prevention devices, the utility may assess penalties or other corrective actions warned in the notices.
Water Service Interruption & Restoration: Failure to comply with backflow requirements may result in disconnection of water service until all required installations, testing, and documentation are completed satisfactorily.
Penalties: Late test submissions, failure to respond to notices, or removal or bypass of protective devices may lead to fees or further enforcement as allowed by the utility’s rules.
The utility reserves the right to require compliance before continuing or restoring service.
Ventura Water Authority Contact Info:
Ventura Water
336 Sanjon Road
Ventura, CA 93002
Tel: 805-667‑6500
