Ventura County to repeal county-run cross-connection program; duties shift to local water purveyors

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to repeal the county'run cross-connection control ordinance and end county-led backflow services, transferring primary responsibility to local water purveyors.

The change follows the State Water Resources Control Board'endorsed Cross Connection Control Policy Handbook, adopted in December 2023 and effective July 1, 2024, which replaces California Code of Regulations, Title 17, and adds new program requirements that county staff said the county cannot meet without major new resources.

County staff described how the new handbook requires ANSI-accredited lab certification for testers, mandatory hazard assessments for every water meter in a purveyor's district, 24-hour incident response, public outreach and formal local coordination. "We went from an eight-page Title 17 to an 80-page policy handbook," Environmental Health staff member Mr. Ventura said. "There is no state mandate for the county to provide these services."

The staff recommendation presented to the board asked the supervisors to introduce an ordinance repealing Ventura County Ordinance No. 4487, set a second hearing for June 24 to receive public testimony and adopt the repeal, and find the repeal exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA…