Backflow Testing in Monterey County, California
AWWA-certified annual backflow testing across Monterey County for Cal-Am, Marina Coast, Cal Water King City, Alco Water, and the Salinas Valley city systems, with specialty coverage for produce processors, hospitals, and Pebble Beach irrigation.
- CCL: #1062017
- AWWA Backflow Tester Cert.: #15112
- AWWA Specialist Cert.: #03373
- 11 Monterey purveyors covered
Serving: Salinas, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Seaside, Marina, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks, Soledad, Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Castroville, Pebble Beach.
Do I need backflow testing in Monterey County?
If you have a backflow assembly on a Monterey County service, yes. Purveyors range from Cal-Am Monterey under CPUC Tariff Rule 16 to independent city systems and community services districts, all governed by Monterey County Code § 15.04.145 and the SWRCB CCCPH.
“In California, state regulations require annual testing of backflow prevention devices, regardless of property occupancy.”
The Salinas Valley is publicly described as the source of 2024 gross crop value of $4,992,581,000, with strawberries alone exceeding $1.04 billion. That scale maps to an unusually dense base of high-hazard commercial-RP accounts.
Not sure which utility serves your address? Call (800) 684-8346.
Water purveyors in Monterey County requiring annual testing
Peninsula is Cal-Am; Salinas is Alco plus municipal; south county is city utilities and Cal Water King City; coast is CSDs; oversight for small systems is Monterey County Environmental Health.
| Purveyor | Service Area | Governing Rule |
|---|---|---|
| California American Water — Monterey District | Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks, portions of Seaside | CPUC Tariff Rule 16 (AL 1483, 2025); SWRCB CCCPH |
| Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) | City of Marina + Ord Community (former Fort Ord / CSUMB) | MCWD Cross-Connection Control Program; Title 17 CCR; SWRCB CCCPH |
| California Water Service — King City District | City of King City + adjacent unincorporated | CPUC Tariff Rule 16; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Alco Water Service (Alisal Water Corporation) | East and North Salinas | CPUC Tariff Rule 16; SWRCB CCCPH |
| City of Salinas (municipal) | Portions of Salinas not served by Alco | Salinas Municipal Code; SWRCB CCCPH |
| City of Soledad Public Works | City of Soledad | Soledad Municipal Code; SWRCB CCCPH |
| City of Gonzales Public Works | City of Gonzales | Gonzales Water System Cross-Connection Program; SWRCB CCCPH |
| City of Greenfield Public Works | City of Greenfield | City Water Division CCC Program; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Castroville Community Services District | Unincorporated Castroville (~2,145 connections, 7,000+ customers) | CCSD Rules; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Pajaro / Sunny Mesa Community Services District | Northern Monterey County (Pajaro, Sunny Mesa, Springfield) | PSMCSD Rules; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Monterey County Environmental Health — Drinking Water Protection Services | Countywide oversight of 1,250+ small systems (2–199 connections) | Monterey County Code § 15.04.145 incorporating Title 17 CCR § 7584; SWRCB CCCPH |
“Backflow prevention assemblies in our service area must be tested annually, when a device is newly installed, repaired, or if it is actively leaking.”
Monterey Peninsula Water Management District governs peninsula water supply allocations and the Pebble Beach reclamation project; it does not operate a retail cross-connection program.
How our testing process works
- 1
Identify your purveyor
Cal-Am Monterey, MCWD, Cal Water King City, Alco Water, a Salinas Valley city utility, or a coast CSD.
- 2
On-site test (10 – 20 minutes)
Certified test procedure with calibrated gauges. Multi-device routing for produce and resort facilities.
- 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 utility 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: Salinas Valley cold-pack CIP, winery / ag process water, hospital boilers and dialysis, resort pools and kitchens, aquarium life-support isolation.
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. Common on residential and vineyard irrigation.
ASSE 1056
Spill-Resistant Vacuum Breaker (SVB)
Modern PVB variant; standard retrofit.
California and federal compliance context
“Section 15.04.145 of the Monterey County Code incorporates the requirements of 7584 of Title 17, California Code of Regulations, which requires that the water supplier protect the water supply from contamination by eliminating actual cross-connections and reducing the hazard of potential cross-connections.”
1,250+
Small public water systems under Monterey County Environmental Health’s Local Primacy Agency oversight — among the densest small-system caseloads in California.
Authorities: SWRCB CCCPH, AWWA M14 5th ed., USC FCCCHR, EPA CCC Manual.
Cities we serve in Monterey County
Salinas
County seat and the 'America's Salad Bowl' heart. Salinas Valley Health Medical Center (263 beds) and Natividad (county trauma) anchor hospital RP load. Taylor Farms, Mann Packing, Fresh Express, Tanimura & Antle, Dole, and Church Brothers drive extensive cold-pack / process-water RP volume.
Monterey & Pacific Grove
On Cal-Am Monterey District under CPUC Tariff Rule 16. Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP, 258 acute beds), Naval Postgraduate School, and Monterey Bay Aquarium (with dedicated seawater life-support) are concentrated commercial-RP accounts.
Carmel, Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley
On Cal-Am Monterey. Pebble Beach operates seven golf courses on recycled water, each with dual-plumbed potable services requiring RP isolation. Hospitality density adds extensive kitchen-RP load.
Seaside, Marina, Sand City
Mix of Cal-Am Monterey (Seaside) and MCWD (Marina + Ord Community / CSUMB under Ordinance 64). Former Fort Ord redevelopment creates mixed industrial / academic RP profile.
Soledad, Gonzales, Greenfield, King City
South Salinas Valley cities. Municipal utilities operate under city ordinances and SWRCB CCCPH. Ag-processing tenants in each (vegetable packers, winery operations at Chalone and Santa Lucia Highlands AVAs) drive commercial RP work.
Castroville, Moss Landing, Pajaro
Northern Monterey County coast. Castroville CSD and Pajaro/Sunny Mesa CSD handle retail water; dense strawberry and artichoke processing drives heavy seasonal RP volume.
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, including ag-processing CIP systems and hospital campus programs. We file directly through every Monterey purveyor’s channel. Field work is not sub-contracted.
Frequently asked questions
How often is backflow testing required in Monterey County?
Every major purveyor requires an annual test, aligned with the CA SWRCB Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (effective July 1, 2024). Monterey County Code § 15.04.145 incorporates Title 17 CCR § 7584, requiring the water supplier to protect the water supply from contamination by eliminating actual cross-connections.
Which water purveyors in Monterey County require annual testing?
California American Water Monterey District (CPUC Tariff Rule 16), Marina Coast Water District, California Water Service King City District, Alco Water Service (Salinas), City of Salinas partial, City of Soledad, City of Gonzales, City of Greenfield, City of King City, Castroville Community Services District, Pajaro/Sunny Mesa CSD, and Monterey County Environmental Health's countywide small-systems program (regulating 1,250+ water systems) all require annual testing.
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. Per Cal-Am Monterey: 'Failure to comply may result in the disconnection of water service after repeated requests from our Cross Connection Department.'
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 Salinas Valley produce processors and cold-storage facilities need backflow testing?
Yes. Taylor Farms, Mann Packing, Fresh Express, Tanimura & Antle, Driscoll's, and the Castroville-Watsonville cold-pack cluster operate extensive RP-assembly programs on process water, CIP sanitation loops, booster pumps, and fire systems. Annual testing is required on every installed device.
Do Pebble Beach Resort golf courses and the Monterey Bay Aquarium need backflow testing?
Yes. Pebble Beach operates seven golf courses on recycled water (Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, The Links at Spanish Bay, The Hay, Cypress Point, Monterey Peninsula Country Club, Poppy Hills) — every potable service with dual plumbing carries RP protection. The Monterey Bay Aquarium runs a dedicated seawater-intake life-support system that must be fully isolated from its potable supply via RP assemblies.
Annual deadlines in Monterey County are enforced by Cal-Am, MCWD, Cal Water, and each city or CSD. Non-compliance can result in water service disconnection.
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.
Monterey County purveyors. Cal-Am CCC, MCWD CCC, Cal Water CCC, Greenfield, Monterey Co. DWPS.