Highland's water agency is East Valley Water District, so EVWD decides which Highland properties need a backflow assembly and how results are reported; its program details couldn't be confirmed for this page. If you have a test request, a leaking device or a new irrigation or fire line, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Highland.
Local conditions in Highland
The City of Highland's residential plan-check handout names East Valley Water District as the water agency and lists EVWD among the approvals needed before a permit is issued. An EVWD letter on the City's site also confirms EVWD water and sewer mains serving a Highland property, though it wasn't verified that every address in town is in EVWD territory. EVWD's own website couldn't be opened when this page was researched, so its backflow interval, report form and tester rules aren't stated here. California requires every water supplier to protect its system from cross connections, so if EVWD asks for a test, plan on it.
Highland grew on navel oranges and the railroads and is divided into Highland, East Highland and West Highland. About 44 percent of its homes were built before 1980, with a median build year of 1983, and the 1980s and 1990s were the biggest building decades. Irrigation systems from those years often have original vacuum breakers or assemblies that have never been rebuilt. Shops and offices along Base Line and the older blocks near Palm Avenue and the Highland Historic District are also places where devices on commercial and fire services turn up.
Test, rebuild or replace?
| What you find | Likely next step | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Device passes | File the report | No repair needed |
| Check valve leaks through | Rebuild with new rubber and springs | Wear and debris are the usual causes |
| Relief valve keeps discharging | Rebuild relief valve, clean first check | Often a fouled seat |
| Body cracked or model obsolete | Replace the assembly | Parts may not exist; new install needs a test |
Signs to watch for
- A letter from EVWD about a backflow test or survey
- Water spilling from an assembly when no irrigation is running
- Drips at test cocks, unions or shutoff handles
- Weak pressure on sprinkler zones beyond the device
- No test history for a commercial or fire service you just took over
Seasonal notes
Highland sits at the southern base of the San Bernardino Mountains, and winter mornings can bring frost to exposed brass in the higher parts of town. Cover an above-ground assembly when freezing nights are forecast. Summer is the heavy irrigation season, so a spring test catches weak checks before the hottest months. New devices and plumbing changes need a permit from the City of Highland Building & Safety Division on Base Line, which requires permits for plumbing systems.
Backflow Testing questions in Highland
My water provider has no published backflow program. Do I still need testing?
Can a cold night damage an outdoor backflow assembly?
Do I need a permit to install or replace a backflow preventer?
What is the difference between a reduced pressure assembly and a double check?
More plumbing services in Highland
Backflow Testing nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
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