Colton's Water Department serves the whole city, so the City of Colton is the authority on which properties need a backflow assembly and how tests are reported; ask the City for its program details. For a test, a failed device or a new install, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Colton.
The Colton picture
Colton runs its own water and wastewater utilities. Its drinking water is mostly local groundwater from city wells, disinfected with chlorine, and it's hard: the 2025 report lists an average of about 207 mg/L for the Colton/Rialto sources. Scale is one of the most common reasons a check valve won't seal during a test. The City sets its own backflow rules, so call Water Utility Administration at (909) 370-6131 to confirm intervals and forms. Every California water supplier must protect its system from cross connections, so a City request for a test is a real requirement. About half of Colton's homes were built before 1980, and the rail-oriented "Hub City" has plenty of industrial and commercial services, where assemblies are most common.
What to do now
- Read any City notice for the due date, device location and filing instructions.
- Check the assembly for discharge from the relief port, drips or cracks.
- Close your own shutoff if it's leaking hard. For a main break or service line leak on the City side, the after-hours number is (909) 370-5000.
- Collect past reports showing the make, model, size and serial number.
- Call for a certified tester and ask if they can handle the City's paperwork.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Steady flow from the relief valve | Scale or debris under the first check |
| Check fails the gauge test | Worn disc, weak spring or mineral buildup |
| Sprinklers weak after the device | Partly closed valve or clogged check |
| Drip at a test cock | Worn seal |
| Assembly leaning or cracked | Impact or settling around the pipe |
Cost factors
- Whether the visit is a test only or a rebuild and retest
- Reduced pressure, double check or vacuum breaker
- Pipe size, especially for industrial and fire services
- Replacing a body that is cracked or no longer made
- Fittings, unions and shutoffs next to the device that are too corroded to reuse
- Permit work through the City of Colton Building & Safety Division, which requires permits to replace water lines; changing only a fixture on existing plumbing is listed as not needing one
Backflow Testing questions in Colton
My water provider has no published backflow program. Do I still need testing?
What happens if my assembly fails its test?
What does the tester actually check?
Should I keep a copy of each test report?
More plumbing services in Colton
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