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Ventura County Board repeals county-run backflow/cross-connection program, returns duties to water purveyors
Summary
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to repeal a county ordinance that governed the county-run cross-connection (backflow) testing program, following state changes that require new certification standards and expanded hazard assessments.
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to repeal the county'run cross-connection program and its implementing ordinance (No. 4487), returning responsibility for backflow prevention testing and related program administration to local water purveyors.
County staff told the board the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a new Cross Connection Control Policy Handbook (adopted December 2023, effective July 1, 2024) that replaces California Code of Regulations, title 17 and imposes new requirements county staff said it cannot meet. "The California code of regulations, title 17, which we base our ordinance on, has been sunset as of last October," said Ron Ventura, the county's cross-connection specialist. He said the handbook requires ANSI-accredited laboratory certification for testing, comprehensive hazard assessments for every meter in a purveyor district, and faster incident-response and outreach duties.
Why it matters: the handbook's expanded requirements would change who carries out testing, inventory and enforcement. County staff recommended the…
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