The City of San Diego Public Utilities Department’s top priority is to ensure the safety of our drinking water. A vital part of this effort is the Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Program. 

A cross-connection is a point in a plumbing system where it is possible for a non-potable substance to come into contact with the potable drinking water supply. Common examples of cross connections include a garden hose submerged in a pesticide mixture, a piped connection providing potable water to an industrial cooling tower, or a submerged outlet of an irrigation system. Cross-connections can lead to backflow of non-potable substances into the public water system. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Act, California Department of Public Health and the Uniform Plumbing Code require all sites with potential cross-connections to be equipped with a backflow prevention assembly. The City of San Diego has adopted codes, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with these regulations and to protect the public water system. 

All 1.5” and larger meters for multi-family, commercial/industrial, and dedicated irrigation meters regardless of size, are required to have a backflow prevention assembly at each meter. The City works closely with our customers, architects, contractors and engineers to ensure compliance with cross-connection control and backflow prevention requirements.  

To maintain the safety of our water system and comply with state and federal regulations, failure to install and maintain a backflow device may result in code enforcement actions, including fines and water service termination until compliance is met. 

If you have been contacted by the Public Utilities Department to have a backflow prevention assembly installed, please contact the Cross Connection Specialist listed on your notification letter, or contact us at 858-292-6329 or crossconnect@sandiego.gov.   

If you have been contacted by the Public Utilities Department to have a backflow prevention assembly tested, please see the  City of San Diego Approved List of Backflow Testers. All backflow devices are required to be tested annually.  

For questions regarding device requirements and approvals for meter protection and fire protection, or for more information about this program, contact us at 858-292-6329 or via email at crossconnect@sandiego.gov.

If you are a backflow tester currently certified with the American Water Works Association (CA-NV) or the American Backflow Prevention Association (regional) and are interested in testing backflow assemblies within our district, please email crossconnect@sandiego.gov to schedule an appointment for the Tester Orientation. The orientations are held in January and July of each year. You will be required to provide current copies of gauge calibration and backflow tester certifications, issued by either of the previously mentioned associations.