To ensure a safe water system, Santa Rosa Water crews have tested the backflow devices of undamaged homes and businesses in Coffey Park and Fountain Grove neighborhoods prior to the resumption of water service. If you received an orange door tag this indicates that your backflow assembly failed, and to ensure water safety you must call a certified backflow tester to make arrangements for the backflow assembly to be repaired. Water service cannot be resumed until the backflow assembly has been repaired. For questions during business hours, please call 707-543-3965, and after hours and weekends 707-543-3805. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work together to ensure the safety of the City’s water system.

Certified Testers Authorized to Test Backflow Devices in Santa Rosa (PDF)

What is a backflow device? 

A backflow device is a precautionary device approved by the State Office of Drinking Water and the University of Southern California (USC) Hydraulic Research Section that provides protection from hazards getting back into the City water system. Such types of hazards could be a separate irrigation system on a property, a business that uses chemicals, a property with a sewage lift station, or an unknown potential. All of the preceding hazards are considered “high hazard” situations and require what is known as a reduced pressure backflow device. Reduced pressure (RP) backflow devices have a reduced zone in the center of the device with two independent working check valves that prevent water from flowing back into the water system. This device is required per State Health Code Title 17.

There are also “low hazards” such as a well on a property, a property with pumps, or a property with a residential fire sprinkler system. Properties with low hazards are required by State Health Code Title 17 to have a double check (DC) backflow device. The double check backflow device is a valve with two independent check valves that are spring loaded that allow water to flow through the device to the property, but prevent water from flowing back.

All the above-listed situations are considered to be hazardous because chemicals or contaminated water could possibly back siphon into our system. Therefore, a backflow device is required in these instances to protect the integrity of the City’s water system.