Backflow Testing in Merced County, California
AWWA-certified annual backflow testing across Merced County city systems and community districts, dispatched from our Modesto headquarters with same-week scheduling.
- CCL: #1062017
- AWWA Backflow Tester Cert.: #15112
- AWWA Specialist Cert.: #03373
- 10 Merced purveyors covered
Serving: Merced, Atwater, Los Banos, Livingston, Hilmar, Dos Palos, Gustine, Winton, Planada, Le Grand.
Do I need backflow testing in Merced County?
If you have a backflow prevention assembly on a Merced County service, yes. Every city and district runs a cross-connection program under its own code, all aligned with the CA SWRCB CCCPH.
“Backflow prevention assemblies must be tested at least annually and immediately after installation, relocation or repair.”
Merced County is California’s fifth-largest agricultural producer, with a ~$9.93 billion ag economy supporting 38,800 jobs. That scale maps directly to the county’s dense base of high-hazard commercial RP accounts.
Not sure which utility serves your address? Call (800) 684-8346.
Water purveyors in Merced County requiring annual testing
Each city or district administers its own cross-connection program under its water code, aligned with the SWRCB CCCPH.
| Purveyor | Service Area | Governing Rule |
|---|---|---|
| City of Merced Public Works | City of Merced (pop. ~86,333) | Merced Municipal Code § 15.32.080 — Backflow Prevention Assemblies |
| City of Atwater Public Works | City of Atwater (pop. ~30,296) | Atwater Municipal Code Title 13 — Water Service |
| City of Los Banos Public Works | City of Los Banos (pop. ~40,571) | Los Banos Municipal Code Title 6, Chapter 9 — Cross-Connection Control |
| City of Livingston | City of Livingston (pop. ~14,172) | Livingston Code of Ordinances § 9-5-57 — Water Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Program |
| City of Dos Palos | City of Dos Palos (pop. ~5,744) | Dos Palos Utilities; SWRCB CCCPH |
| City of Gustine | City of Gustine (~5,500 residents) | Gustine Municipal Code; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Winton Water & Sanitary District | Community of Winton (2,559 water connections) | WWSD Water Regulations; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Planada Community Services District | Community of Planada | PCSD rules; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Le Grand Community Services District | Community of Le Grand | LGCSD rules; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Hilmar County Water District | Community of Hilmar (~5,416 people) | HCWD Rules & Regulations; SWRCB CCCPH |
Merced Irrigation District (MID) delivers agricultural irrigation and does not run a retail drinking-water CCC program; potable cross-connections are governed by the city or community district at the premise.
How our testing process works
- 1
Identify your purveyor
Merced, Atwater, Los Banos, Livingston, Dos Palos, Gustine, or one of the community districts. Each has its own filing channel.
- 2
On-site test (10 – 20 minutes)
We run the 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. We avoid starting work without your approval.
- 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: dairy CIP, poultry processing, cheese plants, chemigation on irrigated ag, boiler feed, fire systems.
ASSE 1015
Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA)
Residential fire lines, commercial irrigation without chemical injection. Most common residential device countywide.
ASSE 1020
Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB)
Above-ground irrigation protection. Very common on residential landscape and small-acreage orchards on city water.
ASSE 1056
Spill-Resistant Vacuum Breaker (SVB)
Modern PVB variant with reduced nuisance spill. Standard retrofit.
California and federal compliance context
“Local health officers may maintain programs for the control of cross-connections by water users, within the users’ premises, where public exposure to drinking water contaminated by backflow may occur.”
Top 3
California county for milk production (behind Tulare and Kings). Dairy CIP loops are the dominant high-hazard backflow class in this corridor.
Authorities: SWRCB CCCPH, AWWA M14 5th ed., USC FCCCHR, EPA CCC Manual.
Cities we serve in Merced County
Merced
County seat. Merced MC § 15.32.080 governs; UC Merced (cooling towers, research labs) and Mercy Medical Center Merced anchor a growing commercial-RP market alongside city-wide residential DC/PVB work.
Atwater
Mid-size Valley system. Atwater MC Title 13 covers water service; the Castle Commerce Center (former Castle AFB) carries mixed industrial water tenants that drive elevated-hazard RP testing.
Los Banos
West side. Annual testing runs under MC Title 6 Chapter 9, and Memorial Hospital Los Banos (Sutter) is the region's anchor medical account.
Livingston
Foster Farms Livingston is publicly described as the largest chicken poultry-processing plant on the West Coast (3,700+ employees). § 9-5-57 requires annual testing, and plant-side RP volume is the story here.
Hilmar
Hilmar Cheese Company is publicly described as producing more cheese and whey from one site than any other processor in the world. RP-assembly load from dairy-ingest and CIP loops is substantial.
Dos Palos & Gustine
Small Valley systems on the west side. Full-service utilities serving residential and small commercial backflow; state CCCPH applies.
Winton & Planada
Unincorporated community systems. Small DC/PVB volumes plus commercial RP at ag-adjacent sites.
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, with deep experience across the Central Valley dairy corridor. We file directly with every Merced purveyor we cover, and field work is not sub-contracted.
Frequently asked questions
How often is backflow testing required in Merced County?
Every purveyor in Merced County requires an annual test, aligned with the California State Water Resources Control Board Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (effective July 1, 2024). Testing is also required after installation, relocation, or repair.
Which water purveyors in Merced County require annual testing?
City of Merced (MMC § 15.32.080), City of Atwater, City of Los Banos (MC Title 6 Ch. 9), City of Livingston (§ 9-5-57), City of Dos Palos, City of Gustine, Winton Water & Sanitary District, Planada CSD, Le Grand CSD, and Hilmar County Water District all require annual testing. Merced Irrigation District is ag irrigation only and is not a retail drinking-water CCC authority.
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 Merced?
We file the certified test report form on your behalf directly with the City of Merced Public Works Water Division within 24 hours of the test, and send you a copy with the invoice.
Do dairies, Foster Farms, and Hilmar Cheese need backflow testing?
Yes. Chemigation, CIP chemical loops, process water, and boiler feedwater at dairies, poultry processing, and cheese plants are classic high-hazard cross-connections that require RP assemblies with annual testing. Merced County has ~230 dairies plus Foster Farms' Livingston plant and Hilmar Cheese (the world's largest single-site cheese facility).
Annual deadlines in Merced County are enforced by your city or district utility. 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.
Merced County purveyors. City of Merced backflow, Los Banos CCC, Livingston § 9-5-57, Winton WSD, Hilmar CWD.