Backflow Testing in Santa Cruz County, California
AWWA-certified annual backflow testing across every major Santa Cruz County purveyor, with specialty coverage for UCSC, Dominican Hospital, Watsonville berry and cider processors, and the coast.
- CCL: #1062017
- AWWA Backflow Tester Cert.: #15112
- AWWA Specialist Cert.: #03373
- 10 Santa Cruz purveyors covered
Serving: Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola, Aptos, Soquel, Felton, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Davenport, La Selva Beach, Live Oak.
Do I need backflow testing in Santa Cruz County?
If you have a backflow assembly on a Santa Cruz County service, yes. Each purveyor administers its own cross-connection program under its municipal code or district policy, all aligned with the SWRCB CCCPH.
“The provisions of Title 17 of the State of California Code of Regulations (as amended) and any applicable Federal laws shall be enforced to prohibit cross connections between the City water main and any potential hazard to that supply.”
Santa Cruz County’s 2024 crop report value topped $446 million, with strawberries alone at $218.9M across 2,640 acres. Watsonville’s berry corridor drives the county’s densest commercial-RP cluster.
Not sure which utility serves your address? Call (800) 684-8346.
Water purveyors in Santa Cruz County requiring annual testing
Each purveyor runs its own cross-connection program under its municipal code or district policy.
| Purveyor | Service Area | Governing Rule |
|---|---|---|
| City of Santa Cruz Water Department | City of Santa Cruz + UC Santa Cruz (wholesale) + portions of Live Oak, Pasatiempo, Soquel | City of Santa Cruz Cross-Connection Control Program; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Soquel Creek Water District (SqCWD) | Capitola, Aptos, Soquel, Rio del Mar, Seascape, La Selva Beach, Opal Cliffs | SqCWD Cross-Connection Control Policy POL-400-003 (aligned with 2024 CCCPH) |
| Scotts Valley Water District (SVWD) | City of Scotts Valley + small unincorporated pockets | Cross-Connection & Backflow Prevention Policy P300-17-1; BSI Online administration |
| San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) | Felton, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Brookdale, Zayante, Lompico (merged) | SLVWD Rules and Regulations; SWRCB CCCPH |
| City of Watsonville Public Works — Water Division | City of Watsonville + portions of unincorporated Santa Cruz County | Watsonville Municipal Code Chapter 6-3 — City Utilities |
| Central Water District | Unincorporated mid-county / Aptos area (~831 connections, ~2,700 people) | Central WD Backflow Prevention Program; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Davenport County Sanitation District | Town of Davenport (north coast, unincorporated) | Santa Cruz County Public Works standards; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Big Basin Water Company (receivership) | Boulder Creek area (~1,200 people; PWSID CA4410001) | Court-appointed receiver; SWRCB CCCPH |
| Mount Hermon Association | Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center, Felton; PWSID CA4410008 | Private non-community PWS; SWRCB CCCPH |
| UC Santa Cruz campus (buys wholesale from City of Santa Cruz) | UCSC residential and research campus, plus 1M-gal campus reservoir | UCSC EH&S campus program under City of Santa Cruz + SWRCB CCCPH |
“The District has partnered with Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI) to manage the District’s backflow testing program.”
How our testing process works
- 1
Identify your purveyor
City of Santa Cruz, SqCWD, SVWD (via BSI Online), SLVWD, City of Watsonville, Central WD, Davenport CSD, or Mount Hermon.
- 2
On-site test (10 – 20 minutes)
Certified test procedure with calibrated gauges.
- 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 (BSI for Scotts Valley; direct for all others) 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: Martinelli's apple-juice process water, Driscoll's berry cold-pack CIP, hospital boilers and chillers, UCSC research labs, Beach Boardwalk kitchens and ride-cooling.
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 San Lorenzo Valley and mid-county residential landscape.
ASSE 1056
Spill-Resistant Vacuum Breaker (SVB)
Modern PVB variant; standard retrofit.
California and federal compliance context
“The Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH) took effect July 1, 2024.”
86,000
acres burned by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire, with SLVWD losing miles of above-ground distribution main — a textbook backflow-risk depressurization event.
Authorities: AWWA M14 5th ed., USC FCCCHR, EPA CCC Manual, H&S Code § 116800.
Cities we serve in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz
County seat. Dominican Hospital (222 beds, Dignity Health), UC Santa Cruz campus, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and O'Neill Wetsuits drive commercial RP volume. The City Water Department runs the program under MC Ch. 16.12.
Watsonville
Berry capital. Driscoll's berry HQ at 345 Westridge and Martinelli's three-facility complex (~600,000 sq ft, apple juice/cider since 1868) are headline commercial-RP accounts. Watsonville Community Hospital anchors medical RP load under WMC Ch. 6-3.
Scotts Valley
Scotts Valley Water District runs the program under Policy P300-17-1 with BSI Online. Former tech/manufacturing footprint (Seagate, Plantronics/Poly, Netflix) plus residential DC/PVB volume.
Capitola, Aptos, Soquel
On Soquel Creek Water District (policy POL-400-003). Pure Water Soquel injection project is the district's seawater-intrusion mitigation effort and expands reclaimed-water reach in the aquifer.
Felton, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek
On San Lorenzo Valley Water District. CZU Fire (2020) rebuilt significant distribution infrastructure; SLVWD's CCCPH-aligned policy was submitted to SWRCB for review.
Davenport, La Selva Beach, Seascape
Coast and mid-county pockets. Davenport CSD on the north coast; La Selva Beach on the edges of Soquel Creek / Central WD service areas.
Live Oak, Pasatiempo, Paradise Park, Zayante
Mix of City of Santa Cruz wholesale and SLVWD. Residential DC / PVB and commercial fire-line DCVA 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 food-processing CIP systems and campus/research facilities. We file directly with each Santa Cruz purveyor and through BSI Online for Scotts Valley. Field work is not sub-contracted.
Frequently asked questions
How often is backflow testing required in Santa Cruz County?
Every purveyor in Santa Cruz County requires an annual test, aligned with the CA SWRCB Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (effective July 1, 2024). Soquel Creek Water District and Scotts Valley Water District both publish annual-testing requirements in their current CCC policies.
Which water purveyors in Santa Cruz County require annual testing?
City of Santa Cruz Water Department, Soquel Creek Water District (Policy POL-400-003), Scotts Valley Water District (Policy P300-17-1), San Lorenzo Valley Water District, City of Watsonville (WMC Ch. 6-3), Central Water District, Davenport County Sanitation District, Big Basin Water Company (in receivership), Mount Hermon Association, and UC Santa Cruz campus 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 Watsonville Municipal Code Chapter 6-3, the City may temporarily discontinue utility service until a failed device is repaired or a cross-connection is corrected.
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.
Are Scotts Valley filings really handled through BSI Online?
Yes. Scotts Valley Water District has partnered with Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI Online) to manage its backflow testing program. Customers receive notice by letter when a device is due; certified testers submit through BSI.
The 2020 CZU Fire affected SLVWD — did that change backflow requirements?
Yes. The CZU Lightning Complex Fire destroyed 5–7 miles of above-ground SLVWD distribution main and multiple intakes, triggering precautionary Do-Not-Drink / Do-Not-Boil notices driven by VOC risk from melted HDPE. Depressurization events like that are classic backflow hazards — annual testing on every installed assembly remains the first line of defense.
Annual deadlines in Santa Cruz County are enforced by each city or district. 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.
Santa Cruz County purveyors. City of Santa Cruz, Soquel Creek WD, Scotts Valley WD, SLVWD, Watsonville MC Ch. 6-3, UCSC EH&S.