Water Quality: Cross Connection Control Program

The cross-connection control program protects the integrity of the city’s drinking water by making sure that there are no connections between the potable water distribution system and other water pipes, storage tanks or other non-potable water sources.

The collaborative program with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Water Quality Division is authorized under San Francisco Health Code Article 12A and governed by Section G of the SFPUC's Rules and Regulations Governing Water Service to Customers.

Backflow Assembly Annual Testing

Tens of thousands of backflow prevention assemblies are installed throughout the city to keep things like fertilizers, anti-corrosive agents or other chemicals that may be added to the water for industrial and other uses, from being drawn into the drinking water pipes. These assemblies must be checked each year by an authorized tester. San Francisco Department of Public Health Environmental Health Branch does not recommend specific Backflow Prevention Assembly Testing Companies, however we maintain a list of companies that employ backflow assembly testers authorized to work in San Francisco under San Francisco Health Code Article 12A.

All water service customers with one or more backflow prevention assemblies receive an annual "30-Day Notice" letter and test forms from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Water Quality Division which will specify the date that proof of annual testing is due. During the annual test month, assemblies must be tested and passed by an authorized tester. The customer must provide the test form or the PIC number to the tester to access backflow assembly information in the database. Please contact Water Quality Division at backflow@sfwater.org or 650-652-3199 if notices are not received during the test month. Penalties may be imposed if testing is overdue.

Who to contact with Backflow Assembly Questions

Backflow Prevention Tester Certification

If you would like to be included on San Francisco's Backflow Tester List, you must obtain a permit to operate by submitting the following:

1. Completed Application Form
2. A non-refundable application fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to the S.F. Department of Public Health
3. A photocopy of current Test Equipment Calibration Certificate
4. A photocopy of the current Certificate of Competency - Backflow Prevention Assembly General Tester from American Water Works Association (AWWA), American Society of Sanitary Engineers (ASSE), American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA), or Northern California Backflow Prevention Association (NCBPA).
5. An original Certificate of General Liability Insurance with attached cross-liability clause.
The Certificate of General Liability Insurance must:
1. Show a minimum $1,000,000 General Liability
2. Show the name of Tester holding the valid Certificate of Competency from AWWA, ASSE, ABPA, or NCBPA.
3. Contain the following language: 
   "The City and County of San Francisco, its Officers and Employees, are named as additional insured pursuant to all operations performed for them by the named insured.
4. Certificate Holder: SFDPH Environmental Health, Attn: Cross-Connection Program.49 South Van Ness Ave., Suite 600, San Francisco CA 94103
5. 10-day prior written notice of cancellation, non-renewal, or material change to SFDPH-EHB
6. Take a written examination on San Francisco Health Code, Article 12A, Backflow Prevention. A score of 70% or better is required to pass the exam. The exam is offered quarterly.
   
   Application documents should be sent by email to Arthur.Duque@sfdph.org at least 3 business days prior to the exam.
   Spots may be limited and will be reserved based on the application submission date. Applications must be complete and accurate.

Once all of the above steps are complete, the Tax Collector's Office will bill you for your annual license certificate. Once payment is received, your Permit to Operate will be mailed to you and you will be added to the approved tester list..

Required Account Updates

Annually:

Every three years:

If your business has closed or you are a tester no longer working in San Francisco:

Making a Complaint

If you would like to make a complaint regarding cross connection control, you may call 311.