The CA Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook mandates water purveyors such as Meiners Oaks Water District to administer a cross-connection control and backflow prevention program, which protects the drinking water supply from potential sources of contamination via the elimination of existing and potential cross connections.
Meiners Oaks Water District (MOWD) contacted the Ventura County Environmental Health Department (VCEHD) to administer the cross-connection and backflow prevention program from 1973 to the present. VCEHD notified MOWD that the contract will terminate on July 1, 2025. MOWD is developing a program in accordance with the new State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB) Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH). After July 1, 2025, MOWD will require all backflow testers in this jurisdiction to have a valid ANSI-accredited organization certification (e.g., AWWA, etc).
Backflow assemblies must be tested at the time of installation, annually (once per year) after installation, after repairs, and after relocation. Customers will receive an annual notice with a testing date due. Please arrange for testing on time to avoid service disconnection.
A cross-connection is a connection between a drinking water supply and a source of pollution or contamination. The undesirable reversal of flow that may allow entry of pollutants and contaminants into the drinking water supply is called “backflow.” Many ordinary activities, under the wrong circumstances, can lead to a backflow. For example, a garden hose submerged in a bucket of wash water for your car, or a hose connected to a fertilizer feeder for your lawn or garden, can be back-siphoned into your distribution pipes if a sudden drop in pressure within the water system occurs. Please do your part to protect yourself and our community by complying with the District’s cross-connection and backflow requirements.
MOWD will be communicating with each existing device owner regarding the transition away from the VCEHD system and the new MOWD system. More details will be available before July 1, 2025.
CA-NV AWWA Backflow Tester Credential Lookup
American Backflow Prevention Association FAQ