Great Oaks Water Company is a smaller, investor-owned water utility that serves parts of San Jose and the surrounding unincorporated areas. While they serve fewer customers than San Jose Water Company or California Water Service, they still have a backflow compliance program in place. If you are a Great Oaks Water Company customer with a backflow prevention device, this article covers what you need to know about their requirements and how they differ from the larger districts.
Who Is Required to Test
Great Oaks Water Company requires annual backflow testing for all commercial properties and any residential property with a cross-connection hazard. This includes irrigation systems, fire suppression systems, and any device that could allow contamination back into the public water supply. The company maintains a registry, but it is smaller and less automated than the larger districts. If you have a device and have never received a notice, do not assume you are exempt. Contact Great Oaks Water Company directly to confirm your compliance status. The company may have an outdated address or an incomplete registry.
How the Testing Process Works
- Receive a notice: Great Oaks Water Company sends test notices, but the timing is less predictable than larger districts. Some customers receive notices 60 days in advance, while others receive them only 30 days before the deadline. The notice is mailed to the address on file.
- Hire a certified tester: The tester must hold a current California backflow tester certification. Great Oaks Water Company does not maintain a list of preferred testers, but they do verify that the tester is certified. We are fully certified and serve Great Oaks Water Company properties.
- Schedule the test: Great Oaks Water Company serves a more spread-out area than the larger districts, and some properties are in harder-to-reach locations. We serve the entire Great Oaks Water Company service area and can schedule your test within a week.
- Submit the test report: The tester completes the official test report and submits it to Great Oaks Water Company. The company accepts both electronic and paper submissions. We submit electronically for faster processing.
- Receive confirmation: Great Oaks Water Company typically confirms receipt by mail or email. If you do not receive confirmation within two weeks, contact the company directly to verify your compliance status.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
Great Oaks Water Company is less aggressive about enforcement than the larger districts, but they do follow up on non-compliance. If you miss the deadline, you typically receive a second notice. If you still do not respond, a late fee may be added to your water bill. The company is less likely to restrict water service than San Jose Water Company or Palo Alto, but they do maintain compliance records. If you are buying or selling a property, a compliance flag can complicate the transaction. The safest approach is to test proactively, regardless of whether you have received a notice.
Schedule your Great Oaks Water Company backflow test today.
We serve San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and the entire South Bay. Same-week scheduling available.
What Happens If Your Device Fails
If the test fails, the report is submitted to Great Oaks Water Company as a failure. You will receive a repair notice with a standard 30-day repair deadline. The company allows extensions in some cases, but you must request the extension before the deadline. We handle both the repair and the retest, and the retest is included in our repair service. The most common failure causes in the Great Oaks Water Company service area are worn seals and aging devices, which are straightforward to repair or replace.
Bottom Line
Great Oaks Water Company has a backflow compliance program, but it is smaller and less automated than the larger districts. The test requirements are the same, but the notice timing and enforcement process are less predictable. If you are a Great Oaks Water Company customer, do not wait for a notice. Schedule your test proactively, keep your records, and confirm your compliance status directly with the company. We serve the entire Great Oaks Water Company area and offer same-week scheduling for both testing and repairs.