Backflow Prevention Devices (revisited)
As we discussed back in April, “Backflow” is a term the District uses to describe the undesirable reversal of flow and possible contamination back into a public drinking water system. A backflow prevention device is a testable and repairable in-line assembly that is used to keep undesirable water from entering the drinking water system during a backflow event such as a main break, fire event, etc. In layman's terms, it's essentially a device that stops water from flowing backward in your pipes and into the public water supply. These devices are essential to protect our drinking water system from contamination or pollution due to backflow, and State Law requires that it be tested annually, so please make sure they are easily accessible and free of obstruction.
As a reminder, the District’s Title III – Water System Management Code, adopted by Ordinance 2025-05, requires that all new and existing water service connections from the District must have a backflow prevention device installed. Also, it shall be customer’s responsibility, at their own expense, to provide and install a new backflow prevention device in accordance with District standards at a location approved by the District. Installation must be performed by a licensed plumbing contractor, and it must be tested within 24 hours by a certified backflow prevention device tester following installation and annually thereafter. All backflow testing results must be immediately forwarded to the District. The customer will retain full ownership and responsibility of their backflow prevention device.
District staff are now starting to inspect properties for backflow prevention devices as part of your annual OWTS inspection. Installation of a properly installed device is a condition of continued water service from the District.
Assistance with Backflow Prevention Devices
The District recognizes and appreciates homeowners’ expense when installing a new backflow prevention device. To help, our Lifeline Program is designed to provide financial assistance to qualified low income families in the form of reduced base and usage charges, as well as financial assistance for the installation of a backflow prevention device. Please contact us for more information.
Customers who don’t qualify for the District’s Lifeline Program but may need additional time to either budget for and/or schedule a licensed plumber to install their backflow prevention device should contact the District’s General Manager directly at knelson@stinsonwater.org to discuss their specific needs and agree to a modified compliance schedule.
Fire Hydrants and Water Distribution Systems
Although the District’s water system was designed to provide potable water service to all properties in Stinson Beach, as well as provide water for structural fires, it was not designed to combat wildfires, especially the climate-driven wildfires that California experiences today.
The District uses water pressure created by pump stations and storage tanks to move water from lower elevations to higher elevations. When too many fire hydrants are used within the same pressure zone, the system can quickly be overwhelmed.
For a structural fire, there might be one to three fire engines responding to the fire but for a wildfire, there can be dozens of fire engines trying to connect to the District’s system. The result is a significant drawdown on the system causing drops in water pressure that can affect the availability of water at fire hydrants, especially those at higher elevations at the wildland-urban interface where wildfires first threaten structures.
Firefighters anticipate this drop in pressure and will adjust their operations as needed. The District also actively coordinates with our Fire District to adjust our operations as well to ensure the maximum amount of water is available for firefighting, regardless of the fire type.
In addition, the District is investing in our water system to replace old, leaking pipes with new, larger diameter pipes to allow faster and easier transmission of water to all parts of our system, in addition to replacing old wharf-head style fire hydrants with standard barrel type hydrants to assist in Fire Department operations. This investment is one of several driving our 15-year Capital Improvement Program and is the primary reason the District was required to raise its water rates last year.
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