Backflow Testing in Contra Costa County, California
AWWA-certified annual backflow testing across EBMUD, Contra Costa Water District, East County cities, and the Tri-Valley. We file directly with every major purveyor.
- CCL: #1062017
- AWWA Backflow Tester Cert.: #15112
- AWWA Specialist Cert.: #03373
- 9 Contra Costa purveyors covered
Serving: Richmond, Martinez, Concord, Walnut Creek, Antioch, Brentwood, Pittsburg, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Danville, San Ramon, El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole.
Do I need backflow testing in Contra Costa County?
If you have a backflow prevention assembly on a Contra Costa County service, yes. West County and central corridors are EBMUD; central county retail is CCWD; East County is split across independent city utilities and Diablo Water District; the Tri-Valley is DSRSD and Golden State.
“According to the CCCPH, backflow preventers and airgaps must be inspected and tested at least once per year or more frequently if determined to be necessary by the water purveyor.”
EBMUD serves 1.4 million people across 332 square miles and 20 cities, while Contra Costa Water District delivers water to roughly 550,000 people through 61,780 connections in central Contra Costa.
Call (800) 684-8346 and we will identify your purveyor and filing method.
Water purveyors in Contra Costa County requiring annual testing
Each purveyor governs its own cross-connection program under either a district regulation, municipal code, or CPUC-regulated protection program.
| Purveyor | Service Area | Governing Rule |
|---|---|---|
| East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) | Richmond, El Cerrito, Kensington, El Sobrante, Pinole, Hercules, Rodeo, Crockett, San Pablo (portion), Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, San Ramon (portion) | EBMUD Regulations Section 26 — Protection of Public Water Supply (eff. 2025-07-01) |
| Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) | Retail: Clayton, Clyde, Concord, Pacheco, Port Costa, parts of Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek | CCWD Code of Regulations Title 5 — Water Supply and Rates |
| City of Antioch | City of Antioch (~113,000 residents) | Antioch Municipal Code Title 6, Chapter 7 § 6-7.04 — Control of Backflow and Cross-Connections |
| City of Brentwood | City of Brentwood | Brentwood Municipal Code Title 14, Chapter 14.10 — Cross-Connection Control |
| City of Pittsburg | City of Pittsburg (~64,000 residents) | Pittsburg Municipal Code Title 13, Chapter 13.14 — Control of Backflow and Cross-Connections |
| Diablo Water District | Oakley, Summer Lake, Hotchkiss Tract, Cypress Corridor | DWD Regulation No. 6 — Backflow, Cross-Connections & Private Fire Lines (eff. 2025-08-01) |
| Golden State Water Co. — Bay Point District | Bay Point (unincorporated, ~21,000 residents) | GSWC Cross-Connection Control Protection Program (CPUC-regulated; CCCPH) |
| Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) | Dougherty Valley portion of San Ramon | DSRSD Cross-Connection Control Master Plan + SWRCB CCCPH |
| Town of Discovery Bay Community Services District | Town of Discovery Bay (~15,000 residents) | DBCSD Ordinance No. 7 — Water Regulations and Service Ordinance |
“CCWD inspectors test the devices annually to make sure they’re operating properly, and repair or replace any failed or improperly functioning device.”
Byron-Bethany Irrigation District delivers raw agricultural water, not retail drinking water. Cross-connections on BBID are handled by the downstream retail purveyor at the meter.
How our testing process works
- 1
Identify your purveyor
EBMUD, CCWD, City of Antioch / Brentwood / Pittsburg, Diablo Water, Golden State Bay Point, DSRSD, or Discovery Bay CSD.
- 2
On-site test (10 – 20 minutes)
Certified test procedure with calibrated gauges. Most residential and small commercial devices test with a full water shut-off.
- 3
If a device fails
We quote the repair on site and schedule the retest.
- 4
Report filed within 24 hours
EBMUD via mail to MS 47 Oakland per their notice deadline. CCWD and city utilities via their direct channels. You get a copy with the invoice.
- 5
Annual reminder
We track your anniversary date and reach out ahead of next year's deadline.
Devices we test
ASSE 1013
Reduced Pressure Assembly (RPA / RPZ)
Required at refineries (Chevron, PBF, Phillips 66, Marathon), chemical plants (Dow, Air Products), C&H Sugar, hospital boilers, data center cooling loops, and fire lines with additives.
ASSE 1015
Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA)
Residential fire lines, commercial irrigation without chemical injection, and HOA landscape meters. Dominant residential device across EBMUD and CCWD.
ASSE 1020
Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB)
Above-ground irrigation protection. Common on Lamorinda hillside homes and East County residential landscape.
ASSE 1056
Spill-Resistant Vacuum Breaker (SVB)
Modern PVB variant. Standard retrofit when a legacy PVB reaches end of life.
California and federal compliance context
“The Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH) took effect July 1, 2024.”
1.16M
residents in Contra Costa County (2020 Census) served by 9 retail purveyors across 19 cities and multiple refinery and chemical clusters.
Authorities: AWWA M14 5th ed., USC FCCCHR, EPA CCC Manual, H&S Code § 116800.
Cities we serve in Contra Costa County
Richmond
On EBMUD. Chevron Richmond Refinery — 2,900 acres and ~245,271 bbl/day capacity — is the headline industrial RP account; Kaiser Permanente Richmond adds concentrated hospital load.
Martinez
County seat. CCWD retail. Home to PBF Energy Martinez Refining (former Shell Martinez), Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels, and Contra Costa Regional Medical Center.
Concord
CCWD retail. Kaiser and John Muir Health Concord anchor medical RP load; Concord Naval Weapons Station redevelopment carries mixed industrial legacy.
Walnut Creek
Split between EBMUD (most) and CCWD (east sliver). Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek and John Muir Health Walnut Creek dominate commercial accounts.
Antioch
City of Antioch Water, ~31,000 service connections. Sutter Delta Medical Center plus I-4 logistics add commercial RP volume; MC § 6-7.04 governs.
Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay
East County. Brentwood and Diablo Water District (Oakley) run independent programs; DBCSD administers Discovery Bay via Ordinance No. 7.
Pittsburg & Bay Point
Pittsburg runs MC Ch. 13.14 with Dow Chemical, USS-POSCO, Air Products, and the new AVAIO Perseus data center (99 MW CEC-approved). Bay Point is Golden State Water.
Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Danville, San Ramon
Lamorinda + San Ramon Valley on EBMUD, plus DSRSD Dougherty Valley. Mostly residential DC and PVB; commercial RP on medical and retail corridors.
El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, Rodeo, Crockett
West County on EBMUD. Phillips 66 Rodeo refinery and C&H Sugar Crockett are the anchor RP accounts; Kaiser Richmond serves the residential medical base.
Our credentials
California
CCL #1062017
Active contractor state license.
Backflow tester
AWWA Backflow Tester Cert. #15112
AWWA-certified tester.
Specialist
AWWA Specialist Cert. #03373
Cross-Connection Control Specialist.
Family-owned
Jesse Cuevas
Owner and lead tester.
Jesse Cuevas has 13+ years in backflow prevention, installation, testing, and repair. We maintain active tester status on EBMUD’s approved list and file directly through every Contra Costa purveyor’s channel. Field work is not sub-contracted.
Frequently asked questions
How often is backflow testing required in Contra Costa County?
Every major purveyor in Contra Costa County requires an annual test, aligned with the California State Water Resources Control Board Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (effective July 1, 2024). EBMUD states directly that backflow preventers must be tested at least annually per CCCPH.
Which water purveyors in Contra Costa County require annual testing?
EBMUD (Regulations Section 26, eff. 2025-07-01), Contra Costa Water District (Code of Regulations Title 5), City of Antioch (MC Title 6 Ch. 7), City of Brentwood (MC Ch. 14.10), City of Pittsburg (MC Ch. 13.14), Diablo Water District (Regulation No. 6, eff. 2025-08-01), Golden State Water Bay Point, Dublin San Ramon Services District (Dougherty Valley), and Town of Discovery Bay CSD (Ord. No. 7) all require annual testing. Byron-Bethany Irrigation District is raw-water ag only.
What happens if my device fails the test?
We explain the failure on site, quote the repair (commonly a rubber kit, check, or relief valve), and schedule the retest. We avoid starting work without your approval. Purveyors can ultimately curtail service for uncorrected failures.
Who is legally allowed to test backflow devices in California?
Only a backflow prevention assembly tester certified by AWWA or the USC FCCCHR and listed on the applicable purveyor's approved tester roster. Our lead specialist holds AWWA Backflow Tester Cert. #15112 and AWWA Specialist Cert. #03373. The company carries CCL #1062017.
Do refineries and chemical plants need backflow testing?
Yes. Contra Costa's refinery corridor (Chevron Richmond, PBF Martinez, Phillips 66 Rodeo, Marathon Martinez, Air Products Pittsburg, C&H Sugar Crockett, Dow Pittsburg, USS-POSCO Pittsburg) runs extensive RP-assembly programs on process water, fire systems, boiler feed, and cooling loops. Annual testing is required on every installed device.
How do I submit my EBMUD or CCWD test report?
EBMUD requires the completed test form by mail to EBMUD Backflow Prevention Section MS 47, PO Box 24055, Oakland, CA 94623, shortly after notification — check your specific notice for the deadline. CCWD tests many commercial devices in-house; we coordinate filings directly with each utility and send you a copy with the invoice.
Annual deadlines in Contra Costa County are enforced by each utility under its own code or district regulation. Non-compliance can result in service curtailment.
Mon – Sat, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Emergency response available.
Sources and authorities cited on this page
California state authority. CA SWRCB CCCPH, CA H&S Code § 116800.
Federal + standards. EPA CCC Manual, AWWA M14 5th ed., USC FCCCHR.
Contra Costa County purveyors. EBMUD Section 26, CCWD Backflow Prevention, Antioch MC § 6-7.04, Brentwood MC Ch. 14.10, Pittsburg MC Ch. 13.14, DWD Regulation No. 6, Golden State CCC, DSRSD, Discovery Bay CSD.