Understanding the role of various organizations in the management and protection of Los Angeles County's water supply for its nearly 10 million residents is crucial to navigating your responsibilities relating to backflow prevention testing, repair.
Though these organizations have distinct responsibilities in the management of water quality, cross-connection control, and backflow prevention, the colaboration of state, county and municipal level organizations and local agencies in Los Angeles County, California, is crucial in managing our water resource and protecting public health by ensuring the key water resources management priorities:
Complying with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act
Complying with California Title 22 regulations
Protecting quality of the groundwater basin
Creating and maintaining confidence of potable water reuse
Identify sources of contamination and limit release of contaminants
Compling with government-approved cleanup processes
Los Angeles County is served by a number of water districts and authorities that oversee water distribution and management in different areas. Each city and unincorporated community typically falls under one or more water districts or agencies responsible for providing potable water, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Here’s a breakdown of the major water districts and authorities in Los Angeles County, grouped by the cities and communities they oversee:
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) plays a key role in maintaining and ensuring the safety of the water supply in the county. Under its Environmental Health Division, it oversees water quality standards and enforces regulations related to backflow prevention and cross-connection control. Backflow refers to the undesirable reverse flow of water or other substances into the clean water supply, typically due to pressure changes in the system. Cross-connections are the points where non-potable water or other contaminants could potentially mix with the potable water system.
Key responsibilities of LACDPH in cross-connection and backflow control include:
Regulation: Ensuring compliance with state and local regulations, such as the California Code of Regulations Title 17 and the Los Angeles County Code (specifically, Chapter 12.50 - Backflow Prevention).
Inspection and Enforcement: Conducting inspections, assessments, and audits to identify cross-connections and to ensure backflow prevention devices are installed, maintained, and functioning properly.
Public Education and Outreach: Educating the public, businesses, and water system operators about the importance of backflow prevention.
Certification of Backflow Prevention Devices: Certifying backflow prevention devices and testers who are qualified to install and maintain them.
Municipalities within Los Angeles County and their Responsibilities:
Los Angeles County is a large region made up of various municipalities, and each city or water district typically manages its own cross-connection control and backflow prevention programs.
However, these municipalities are required to adhere to the overarching guidelines and regulations set by the state and county to ensure consistency and public safety.Some of the municipalities in Los Angeles County that manage their own cross-connection control programs include:
City of Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) manages the cross-connection control program in the city. LADWP enforces regulations regarding backflow prevention devices, including annual testing, installation, and maintenance.
City of Long Beach: The Long Beach Water Department is responsible for cross-connection control and backflow prevention within the city. The department ensures that all water customers install appropriate backflow prevention devices and conducts regular inspections.
City of Pasadena: The Pasadena Water and Power oversees backflow prevention in the city and requires that backflow devices be tested and maintained regularly.
City of Santa Monica: The Santa Monica Water Division enforces backflow prevention policies and ensures all commercial and residential buildings comply with the regulations.
City of Burbank: The Burbank Water and Power department manages cross-connection control programs, requiring backflow prevention devices to be installed at potential cross-connection points.
City of Glendale: The Glendale Water and Power also manages its own backflow prevention program, ensuring that devices are properly tested and maintained according to the standards.
Other Municipalities: Numerous other smaller cities and water districts within Los Angeles County have their own backflow prevention programs, such as Culver City, Inglewood, Monterey Park, West Covina, and others. These municipalities typically follow the guidelines established by the California Department of Public Health and LACDPH but manage local enforcement independently.
General Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Requirements:
Testing: Backflow prevention devices must be tested annually by a certified backflow tester.
Installation: Devices are required to be installed at any point where there is a potential for contamination from non-potable sources, such as irrigation systems, swimming pools, or fire sprinkler systems.
Maintenance: Backflow devices must be maintained and repaired if necessary to ensure they continue functioning effectively.
Compliance with Standards: The program follows specific standards set by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and local county codes.
For more detailed information about Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) , please visit their official website:
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH)
Los Angeles Dept. Of Water And Power (LADWP) primarily serves the City of Los Angeles and several adjacent communities.
LADWP is the largest municipal water utility in the United States, providing water and power services to residents and businesses in Los Angeles.
Cities Served by Los Angeles Dept. Of Water And Power (LADWP):
- City of Los Angeles
- Bishop (partial)
- Culver City (partial)
- South Pasadena (partial)
- West Hollywood (partial)
Unincorporated Communities Served by Los Angeles Dept. of Water And Power (LADWP):
While LADWP's primary jurisdiction is within the City of Los Angeles, certain adjacent communities and unincorporated areas may also receive services.
For more detailed information about Los Angeles Dept. Of Water And Power (LADWP), please visit their official website:
Los Angeles Dept. Of Water And Power (LADWP)
The Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts (LACWD) are operated by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works and serve various cities and unincorporated communities across the county through five water districts and additional water systems.
Cities Served by Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts (LACWD):
- Lancaster (District 40 – Antelope Valley)
- Palmdale (District 40 – Antelope Valley)
- Malibu (District 29 – Malibu)
Unincorporated Communities Served by Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts (LACWD):
District 21 – Kagel
- CanyonKagel
CanyonDistrict 29 – MalibuTopanga
- Malibu Vista
- Encinal Canyon
Fernwood District 36 – Val Verde
- Val Verde
District 37 – Acton
- Acton
District 40 – Antelope Valley
- Antelope Acres
- Del Sur
- Lake Los Angeles
- Littlerock
- Neenach
- Pearblossom
- Quartz Hill
- Roosevelt
- Sun Village
Other Water Systems Operated by LACWD:
- Marina del Rey Water SystemMarina del Rey (unincorporated coastal community)
- Rancho Los Amigos Water System
- Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center area (in unincorporated Downey)
For more detailed information about Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts (LACWD), please visit their official website:
Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts (LACWD)
Calleguas Municipal Water District (Calleguas) is a wholesale water supplier serving approximately 75% of Ventura County's population. Calleguas provides water to 19 retail water purveyors, including cities, local water agencies, county waterworks districts, investor-owned utilities, and mutual water companies.
Cities Served by Calleguas Municipal Water District:
- Camarillo
- Moorpark
- Oxnard
- Port Hueneme
- Simi Valley
- Water Efficiency Alliance
- Thousand Oaks
Unincorporated Communities Served by Calleguas Municipal Water District:
- Bell Canyon
- Lake Sherwood
- Las Posas Valley
- Oak Park
- Santa Rosa Valley
- Somis
For more detailed information about Calleguas Municipal Water District and its services, please visit their official website:
Calleguas Municipal Water District
The Central Basin Municipal Water District (CBMWD) serves approximately 1.6 million residents across 24 cities and several unincorporated communities in southeast Los Angeles County.
Cities Served by Central Basin Municipal Water District (CBMWD):
- Artesia
- Bell
- Bell Gardens
- Bellflower
- Carson
- Cerritos
- Commerce
- Compton
- Cudahy
- Downey
- Hawaiian Gardens
- Huntington Park
- La Habra Heights
- La Mirada- Lakewood
- Lynwood
- Maywood
- Montebello
- Monterey Park
- Norwalk
- Paramount
- Pico Rivera
- Central Basin
- Santa Fe Springs
- Signal Hill
- South Gate
- Vernon
Unincorporated Communities Served by Central Basin Municipal Water District (CBMWD):
- East Los Angeles
- Florence-Graham
- South Whittier
- West Whittier
- Los Nietos
- Willowbrook
- Walnut Park
For more detailed information about Central Basin Municipal Water District (CBMWD), please visit their official website:
Central Basin Municipal Water District (CBMWD)
Foothill Municipal Water District (FMWD) is a wholesale water supplier serving several communities in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County.
FMWD delivers imported water to its member agencies, which then provide retail water services to residents and businesses within their respective service areas.
Cities Served by Foothill Municipal Water District (FMWD):
- La Cañada Flintridge
Unincorporated Communities Served by Foothill Municipal Water District (FMWD):
- Altadena
- LA Crescenta-Montrose
FMWD's member agencies include:
- Crescenta Valley Water District
- Kinneloa Irrigation District
- La Cañada Irrigation District
- Las Flores Water Company
- Lincoln Avenue Water Company
- Liberty Utilities
- Rubio Cañon Land & Water Association
- Valley Water Company
Each of these agencies serves specific portions of the communities within FMWD's service area.
For more detailed information about Foothill Municipal Water District (FMWD) and its member agencies, please visit their official website:
Foothill Municipal Water District
Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD) provides potable water, wastewater treatment, recycled water, and biosolids composting services to more than 75,000 residents in western Los Angeles County.
Cities Served by Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD):
- Agoura Hills
- Calabasas
- Hidden Hills
- Westlake Village
Unincorporated Communities Served by Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD):
- Chatsworth
- Santa Monica Mountains
For more detailed information about Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD), please visit their official website:
Las Virgenes Municipal Water District
The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper District) is a wholesale water provider serving nearly one million residents across a 144-square-mile area in the San Gabriel Valley. The district encompasses 18 cities and various unincorporated communities.
Cities Served by The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper District):
- Alhambra
- Arcadia
- Azusa
- Baldwin Park
- Bradbury
- Covina
- Duarte
- El Monte
- Industry
- Irwindale
- La Puente
- Monrovia
- Monterey Park
- Rosemead
- San Gabriel
- San Marino
- South El Monte
- Temple City
Unincorporated Communities Served by The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper District):
- Bassett
- Charter Oak
- East Pasadena
- Hacienda Heights
- North El Monte
- South San Gabriel
- Valinda
- West Puente Valley
For more detailed information about Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper District), please visit their official website:
Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
The West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) is a wholesale water agency serving nearly one million residents across 17 cities and several unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County.
Cities Served by West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin):
- Carson
- Culver City
- El Segundo
- Gardena
- Hawthorne
- Hermosa Beach
- Inglewood
- Lawndale
- Lomita
- Malibu
- Manhattan Beach
- Palos Verdes Estates
- Rancho Palos Verdes
- Redondo Beach
- Rolling Hills
- Rolling Hills Estates
- West Hollywood
Unincorporated Communities Served by West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin):
West Basin also provides water to several unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County.
For more detailed information about West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin), please visit their official website:
West Basin Municipal Water District
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