Ventura County Board repeals county-run backflow/cross-connection program, returns duties to water purveyors

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 board repeal the county ordinance and return full program responsibility to the water purveyors rather than create a new, internal county program. "I think we're recommending to conduct the public hearing to introduce the proposed ordinance repealing Ventura County Ordinance," Ventura said during his presentation.

Board members raised questions about the transition. Supervisor Garel noted the county has more than 100 purveyors and asked whether smaller purveyors have the resources to implement the handbook. Ventura said purveyors "have the staffing" and "intimate knowledge of their distribution system" that positions them to take on the expanded duties. Supervisor Long asked directly whether the county would keep any continuing responsibility; Ventura answered, "We will be handing it completely over in its entirety." Jeff Palmer of Public Works confirmed that for the four waterworks districts managed by Public Works, the county's water districts would assume the transferred records and obligations for those districts.

During public comment Scott Corrigan, owner of Accurate Backflow Testing and Dock Repair, urged supervisors to reconsider keeping at least oversight of internal backflow devices. "We're the eyes and the ears for the county," Corrigan said, warning that without county enforcement some property owners might remove internal protection devices. County staff acknowledged that internal devices in hospitals and other sensitive facilities would need continued tracking and encouraged purveyors to maintain inventories during the transition.

Action taken: Supervisor Long moved to approve the ordinance repeal as read into the record by the clerk; Supervisor LaVier seconded. The board read the ordinance title into the record and the motion passed unanimously.

What the action does and next steps: the repeal removes the county's cross-connection program role and assigns full administrative responsibility to local water purveyors. County staff also recommended scheduling a public hearing and the ordinance's adoption processes be completed as required; the matter was approved and the change will proceed as implemented by staff and by coordination with purveyors. The county will transfer data and records to purveyors and, for the four waterworks districts it directly manages, Public Works will accept the transferred obligations and records.

Context and limits: county staff emphasized there is no state mandate that the county provide these services, and that implementing an internal county program would require new ordinance authority, staffing, and funding. Ventura noted his own certifications would lapse under the new accreditation schedule and the county currently lacks an ANSI-accredited lab to meet the handbook's testing requirements. County staff and supervisors said some purveyors may need time and support to complete inventories and training; the county will assist with data transfers and coordination but will not continue county-run testing under the revised state policy.

Ending note: Board members and staff described the repeal as a difficult but necessary administrative response to new state rules; the board voted unanimously to repeal the ordinance and transfer program duties back to water purveyors.