Backflow
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The Carpinteria Valley Water District’s Cross Connection Control Program ensures the safety of our drinking water from contamination and pollution. Our water distribution system is designed for water to flow in one direction from your water meter to your property. Under certain circumstances, a reversal of flow may occur. This is what is referred to in the water industry as “backflow”.
What Causes Backflow?
Backflow can be caused from low pressure in the drinking water system. For example, if a car were to hit a fire hydrant, a significant loss of pressure could occur causing water from our customer’s pipelines to enter the water mains from “cross-connections”. A cross connection is an actual or potential connection between the District’s drinking water and any other system or environment that may contain harmful or objectionable substances.
Backflow can also be caused by backpressure, which could be caused by recirculating pumps, elevation of piping, and wells.
Who is Responsible?
It is the customer’s responsibility to install a backflow prevention assembly that is approved by USC’s Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research.
It is the responsibility of Carpinteria Valley Water District’s Cross Connection Control Program, per State and federal laws, to track annual test compliance, ensure installations meet District standards, and document new installations.
Examples of Cross-Connections that Require Backflow Prevention
Irrigation systems, fire protection systems, or ornamental ponds are just a few examples of cross-connections and require backflow prevention assemblies. If you are having a new backflow device installed, you are required to have a Certified Backflow Tester (Certified by AWWA, Ventura County, or San Luis Obispo County) provide the District with the device information and the initial test results so that it may be added to our program for annual testing.
Backflow Testers
Certified Backflow Testers are now required to enter their test results online using the Online Backflow Form found below. If you are a tester and are having trouble accessing the website, please contact danielle@cvwd.net or 805-684-2816 ext. 121 to obtain your login information.
Click here for a helpful video that contains step-by-step instructions on how testers can add backflow tests at carpinteria.tokaytest.com
See below for the CVWD Backflow Guide for Testers.