Backflow Testing in Madera County, California
AWWA-certified annual backflow testing across Madera County city systems, county CSAs, and Cal Am Oakhurst-Madera service areas.
- CCL: #1062017
- AWWA Backflow Tester Cert.: #15112
- AWWA Specialist Cert.: #03373
- 9 Madera purveyors covered
Serving: Madera, Chowchilla, Madera Ranchos, Oakhurst, Coarsegold, Raymond, Bass Lake, Bonadelle Ranchos.
Do I need backflow testing in Madera County?
If you have a backflow assembly on a Madera County service, yes. The County Environmental Health Division serves as the Local Primacy Agency for over 200 small water systems, and every system is governed by the SWRCB CCCPH.
“California Administrative Code, California Plumbing Code, and Madera Municipal Code all require testing when a Backflow Preventer is installed, repaired, or relocated and not less than annually.”
Over 200 small public water systems operate in Madera County; combined with city systems and Cal Am Oakhurst-Madera, the installed device base spans residential, ag, and institutional hazard classes.
Not sure which utility serves your address? Call (800) 684-8346.
Water purveyors in Madera County requiring annual testing
City systems, county-operated Maintenance Districts and CSAs, Cal Am, and several mutual water companies all run cross-connection programs under the SWRCB CCCPH.
| Purveyor | Service Area | Governing Rule |
|---|---|---|
| City of Madera — Public Works Water Division | City of Madera (county seat, pop. ~66,224) | Madera Municipal Code (Cross-Connection Control) + California Plumbing Code + SWRCB CCCPH |
| City of Chowchilla Public Works | City of Chowchilla (~18,720) | Chowchilla Municipal Code (Title 13 — Public Services); SWRCB CCCPH |
| Madera County Maintenance District MD-10A (Madera Ranchos) | Madera Ranchos (~3,072 served); PWSID CA2010008 | Madera County Code (County-operated CWS); SWRCB CCCPH |
| Madera County CSAs & Maintenance Districts | Small unincorporated communities (Bass Lake, Rolling Hills, Chukchansi, Table Mountain / Valley Children's) | Madera County Code; SWRCB CCCPH |
| California American Water — Hillview / Oakhurst-Madera | Oakhurst, Coarsegold, Raymond (~1,500 connections) | CPUC Tariff Rule 16 (AL 1483, 2025); SWRCB CCCPH |
| Madera Valley Water Company | Madera area (~6,428 residents, 5 wells) | MVWC rules; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Bakman Water Company — Rolling Hills | Rolling Hills area; PWSID CA2010009 | Bakman rules; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Yosemite Spring Park Utility Co. | Sierra Nevada community; PWSID CA2010005 | YSPUC rules; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Root Creek Water District | Southeastern Madera County / Riverstone (9,674 acres) | RCWD Code; SWRCB CCCPH |
Madera Irrigation District and Gravelly Ford Water District deliver raw agricultural water, not retail drinking water; retail CCC sits with the city, county, or Cal Am at the meter.
How our testing process works
- 1
Identify your purveyor
City of Madera, Chowchilla, Madera County CSAs, Cal Am Oakhurst-Madera, or a mutual water company. Each has its own filing channel.
- 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
We submit to your purveyor and send you 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)
High-hazard: Valley Children's Hospital boilers and chillers, Chukchansi Gold kitchens and pools, prison kitchens and laundries, winery CIP, nut-processor wash lines.
ASSE 1015
Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA)
Residential fire lines, commercial irrigation without chemical injection.
ASSE 1020
Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB)
Above-ground irrigation protection; very common on Madera Ranchos and Bonadelle Ranchos residential lots.
ASSE 1056
Spill-Resistant Vacuum Breaker (SVB)
Modern PVB variant; standard retrofit when a legacy PVB fails.
California and federal compliance context
“The Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH) took effect July 1, 2024.”
200+
Small public water systems in Madera County under County Environmental Health Local Primacy Agency oversight.
Authorities: AWWA M14 5th ed., USC FCCCHR, EPA CCC Manual, H&S Code § 116800.
Cities we serve in Madera County
Madera
County seat. City Water Division tests city-distributed commercial accounts; Madera Community Hospital (reopened March 2025 under AAM Inc.) anchors a local RP base alongside ag-processing plants.
Chowchilla
Second incorporated city. Valley State Prison and the Central California Women's Facility (the largest female institution in California) are the dominant institutional RP accounts.
Madera Ranchos
Served by Madera County MD-10A. Valley Children's Hospital sits just south on Valley Children's Place (358-bed pediatric teaching hospital, ranked 10th-largest in the U.S.). Heavy high-hazard RP density.
Oakhurst
Served by Cal Am's Hillview / Oakhurst-Madera District under CPUC Tariff Rule 16. Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino (400+ rooms) drives the area's headline commercial RP load.
Coarsegold & Raymond
Sierra Nevada foothills, served by Cal Am Oakhurst-Madera plus small mutual systems. Residential DC and PVB dominate.
Bass Lake & Bonadelle Ranchos
Recreation and residential. Served by various CSAs and small districts; irrigation PVB retrofits are common.
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 across California’s Central Valley. We file directly with every Madera purveyor we cover, and field work is not sub-contracted.
Frequently asked questions
How often is backflow testing required in Madera County?
Every purveyor in Madera County requires an annual test, aligned with the California State Water Resources Control Board Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (effective July 1, 2024). City of Madera additionally requires testing after any installation, repair, or relocation.
Which water purveyors in Madera County require annual testing?
City of Madera, City of Chowchilla, Madera County Maintenance Districts and CSAs (including MD-10A Madera Ranchos), California American Water Oakhurst-Madera (ex-Hillview), Madera Valley Water Company, Bakman Rolling Hills, Yosemite Spring Park, and Root Creek Water District all require annual testing. Madera Irrigation District is ag irrigation 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.
How do I submit my test report to the City of Madera?
We file the certified test report form on your behalf directly with the City of Madera Water Division within 24 hours of the test, and send you a copy with the invoice.
Do Valley Children's Hospital and Chukchansi Gold need backflow testing?
Yes. Hospital boilers, sterile processing, dialysis loops, and cooling towers are classic high-hazard cross-connections. Valley Children's Hospital (a 358-bed pediatric teaching hospital in Madera) and Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino (400+ rooms, kitchens, pools, irrigation, fire systems) both operate extensive RP-assembly programs requiring annual testing.
Annual deadlines in Madera County are enforced by your city, county MD/CSA, or Cal Am Oakhurst-Madera. Non-compliance can result in water service shut-off.
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.
Madera County purveyors. City of Madera water, Chowchilla FAQ, Madera County DWP, Cal Am CCC.