Riverside Public Utilities

Backflow Prevention

Backflow is the reversal of water's normal direction of flow. When water passes through a water meter into a customer's home or business it should not flow back into the City's water main. If it does, the condition is referred to as "backflow." Backflow prevention guards against the unintentional reversal of water flow.

Riverside Public Utilities is responsible for ensuring that the City of Riverside's water system remains free of contamination from backflow through cross-connections and has an established cross-connection control program. The program has assisted in protecting the City’s water system since 1968 when it was developed.


For additional information about this program contact:

Riverside Public Utilities – Water Operations
Cross Connection Control

2911 Adams Street
Riverside, CA 92504
(951) 351-6386 or (951) 351-6167
[email protected]

The California Department of Public Health requires that all public water suppliers implement and enforce a comprehensive cross-connection control program. As part of the program RPU must:

  1. Conduct hazard assessments of new and existing water services to determine if backflow protection is necessary.
  2. Assure that each backflow device installed is tested for proper operation at least annually.
  3. Maintain records of locations, tests, and repairs of all backflow prevention devices.

Details on this program are outlined in the Utility's Water Rule 13.



Backflow Prevention Resources

Approved Backflow Prevention Testers
Only Riverside County certified backflow prevention testers approved by the City of Riverside may test equipment and submit reports to RPU.

Please note: It is ultimately the responsibility of the customer to follow up with their contracted tester and to assure that test reports have been submitted by their respective due dates.

Backflow Test Report 2022


Backflow Prevention Security
Keep your backflow prevention assemblies secure from vandals and thieves. View tips.

Specifications
Backflow prevention assemblies must conform to the following drawings and specifications.

CWD-615
CWD-616
CWD-617

Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies:
Backflow assemblies must be approved by the University of Southern California’s Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (USCFCCHR) and be on their list of approved backflow prevention assemblies. All makes, models, and sizes are listed.

There are six different types of approved backflow prevention assemblies as listed:

  • Double Check Valve Assemblies (DC)
  • Double Check Detector Assemblies (DCDA) For Fire Protection
  • Reduced Pressure Principle Assemblies (RP)
  • Reduced Pressure Principle Detector Assemblies (RPDA For Fire Protection
  • Pressure Vacuum Breaker Assemblies (PVB)
  • Spill Resistant Vacuum Breaker (SVB)

Be sure to verify which type of assembly has been specified by Riverside Public Utilities for your project.

Submit Test and Maintenance Reports by e-mail here.

Please note: E-mailed reporting is preferred by RPU staff as it provides both parties with confirmation of receipt of report and timely processing that can help avoid unnecessary fees for your clients.

Generic Test & Maintenance Report
Generic reports will only be accepted in the case of a service call out or the installation of a new device where no record of pending work has been generated.