Backflow Testing in Bonsall, CA

Bonsall's water setup and backflow

Rainbow Municipal Water District covers about 83 square miles, including the unincorporated communities of Rainbow and Bonsall plus parts of Vista, Oceanside and Fallbrook. A few edges of Bonsall may be served by other agencies, so check the name on your bill. Rainbow's supply is entirely imported State Water Project and Colorado River water, treated at Metropolitan's Skinner plant in Temecula and disinfected with chloramines.

Nothing on record here describes Rainbow's cross-connection rules. That doesn't mean a Bonsall property never needs protection. Irrigation systems, livestock troughs with submerged fill lines, pools and fertilizer injectors all open a path for backflow, and plumbing code generally calls for a device on them. Rainbow also rates its water as very hard, averaging 230 mg/L (13.45 grains per gallon), and scale is one reason check valves stick.

Repair or replace?

Signs to watch for

• Water spraying from the device when irrigation starts
• White mineral crust around test cocks and seams
• Low flow to a trough or zone that used to run well
• A request from your water agency for test results
• No test history at all for a device that's clearly been in for years

Timing notes

Bonsall sits inland, with hotter, drier summers than the coast, so irrigation runs hard and seals wear. A test or tune-up before summer makes sense. On cold winter nights, frost can split an exposed device in a low spot; an insulating cover helps. Bonsall is unincorporated, so permits for a new device go through the County of San Diego. Rainbow's office line is (760) 728-1178.

When you call the number on this page, a free referral service connects you with an independent plumber who works in Bonsall. Say what the device protects, where it sits on the property and whether you have any old test tags or reports, and the plumber can plan for parts before driving out.