Backflow Testing in Bonita, CA

Does a Bonita home need a backflow device at all?

It depends on what is connected to the plumbing. Sweetwater Authority, which serves Bonita, National City and the western and central parts of Chula Vista, lists the situations that call for a device. They include homes with an auxiliary water source, a pump or a fire sprinkler system, multi-unit complexes, wells and gray water systems. A house with ordinary indoor fixtures and a hose bib may have none. A larger lot with a booster pump, a private well or a gray water setup almost certainly needs one. If you are unsure, Sweetwater's customer service line is (619) 420-1413.

Who can test it, and who pays?

Sweetwater requires testing at installation and annually after that, done by a tester the Authority has certified and approved. The customer is responsible for installation, testing, maintenance and repair. Ask the plumber before the visit whether they are approved by Sweetwater, and keep a copy of every report; on a property that changes hands, those records answer the first question a new owner will have.

What wears out on an older Bonita device?

Bonita's median home was built around 1975, so some assemblies on these properties have been through a lot of seasons. Sweetwater reports total hardness averaging 196 ppm, and it uses chloramine as a disinfectant. Over time, mineral film and aging rubber let check valves leak by and relief valves open early. Symptoms include:

• Water running from the relief port when nothing is on
• Crusty white deposits on the body or test cocks
• A drop in pressure to the yard after a repair
• A failed tag left by the last tester

Rebuild kits handle most failures. A cracked body, stripped test cocks or valves that will not turn usually call for a new assembly.

A note on permits in Bonita

We could not confirm from an official page which office handles building permits for Bonita addresses. Before adding or moving a device, check with the building department for your address; a straight test or a rebuild in place is maintenance. When you call, mention whether the device protects a pump, a well, gray water piping or a sprinkler system, since that tells the plumber which assembly type and test kit to bring.