Water FAQs

Proposition 218 is the "Right to Vote on Taxes Act" that was passed by California voters in November 1996. It impacts the LMAD/DFAD/MAD’s in the City, because it does not allow the City to increase assessment rates for LMAD/DFAD/MAD’s without submitting the proposed increase in assessments to the owners of property within the LMAD/DFAD/MAD. The aforementioned assessment ballot procedure allows the owners to express their support for, or opposition to, the proposed increase in the assessments applicable to their properties.

Depending on the improvements within a particular LMAD/DFAD/MAD, assessments will pay for street light and traffic signal installation and maintenance, water, electric and other landscaping, utilities, paint, fertilizer, plant material, sand and soil, irrigation repair, pest control, small equipment and hand tools, electrical/plumbing parts, playground parts, janitorial supplies, equipment rental, equipment/vehicle maintenance, landscape maintenance contracts, tree maintenance contracts, mowing contracts, backflow testing, pocket park maintenance, paseo maintenance and repair, vandalism and graffiti repair, security and site lighting repair, and a portion of City staff salaries/benefits (both administrative & field staff) who work on the District.

To maximize efficiency and quality, the City uses the services of landscape maintenance contractors and City crews for all regularly scheduled landscape, drainage and “pocket” park area maintenance.

• Improved visual aesthetic appeal of nearby parcels, medians, paseos and pocket parks,
• Improved dust control and erosion resistance,
• Improved drainage and flood control,
• Enhanced desirability of properties and property values,
• Generally reduced property related crimes, particularly vandalism, as a result of a well-maintained neighborhood,
• Moderate temperatures and enhanced noise attenuation from well maintained landscaping, Unique identity and character of each community, and improved access to health and fitness opportunities.

The LMADs are governed by the legal requirements of Proposition 218 (Article XIIID of the California Constitution) as well as the provisions of the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 (the "1972 Act"). Every year, the City, in its role as administrator of the various LMAD/DFAD/MAD levies an assessment on each parcel within each LMAD/DFAD/MAD, in accordance with existing law, based upon the special benefit that each such parcel receives from the improvements to be maintained from the proceeds of such assessments.

The revenues collected for each LMAD/DFAD/MAD are intended for use within the boundaries of the LMAD/DFAD/MAD from which it is collected. Ever since Proposition 218 was approved by the voters in 1996, increased assessment rates cannot be levied without submitting the proposed increases to the property owners within the affected LMAD/DFAD/MAD in an assessment ballot procedure for property owner approval.

Each LMAD/DFAD/MAD is administered by Public Works City Hall staff that is responsible for ensuring that all parcels within each LMAD/DFAD/MAD are accurately assessed annually on the tax roll for the special benefit received by such parcels from the improvements for such LMAD/DFAD/MAD. The revenues received are only expended for the improvements that specially benefit the parcels within the respective LMAD/DFAD/MAD. The City's Public Works Department administers all the maintenance contracts and supervises in-house and contracted maintenance staff.

There are 8 LMADs, 3 DFADs and, 2 MADs as follows.

Landscape Maintenance Assessment Districts (LMAD)

1. LMAD #1—City Wide
2. LMAD #2—Eagle Ranch
3. LMAD #3—Brentwood
4. LMAD #4—Old Town
5. LMAD #5—Vista Verde
6. LMAD #6—City Wide II
7. LMAD #7—Talon Ranch
8. LMAD #8—West Creek

Drainage Facilities Assessment Districts (DFAD)

1. DFAD #1—City Wide
2. DFAD #2—Vista Verde
3. DFAD #3—West Creek

Maintenance Assessment Districts (MAD) include “Pocket” Park areas

1. MAD #1—Las Haciendas
2. MAD #2—Vista Del Valle

The City of Victorville, by Council Policy No. CP-88-2, requires that arterial streets, drainage, and “pocket” park areas be screened from residential developments by a masonry wall, per City standards. The City policy requires that the area between the wall and the adjacent sidewalk be landscaped. In addition, a method for the perpetual maintenance of the wall and landscaping must be adopted by either a Home Owner’s Association (HOA) or incorporated into the appropriate Landscape, Drainage or Maintenance Assessment District administered by the City.

When the development of a neighborhood in the community is identified to be a special benefit by certain improvements such as “pocket” park areas, landscaped sidewalks and paseo walkways and drainage facilities, property owners in the identified special benefit area are assessed to pay the costs of the continual maintenance of the special benefit improvements.

Each LMAD/DFAD/MAD is formed when a residential or commercial project is first developed pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 (the “1972 Act”). The “1972 Act” allows the City of Victorville to levy an annual assessment for the continual maintenance of the special benefit improvements to the property owners who reside within a landscape, drainage or maintenance district and the annual assessment is placed on the property owner’s tax bill.

A person who has proven ability in field testing backflow prevention assemblies to the satisfaction of the Administrative Authority through the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health's Backflow Tester Certification program.

Commercial and industrial customers that may have high potential for pollutants and contaminants to enter the public potable water system must install, test, and maintain backflow prevention assemblies.

A backflow prevention assembly is an approved, testable assembly that use check valves, relief valves configured in different ways to prevent potential pollutants and contaminants from flowing back into the public drinking water system. An approved backflow prevention assembly has gone through an approval process at the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (USCFCC&HR) at the University of Southern California. This process requires laboratory and field testing for 12 months each test. Only these assemblies successfully completing and passing both tests are recognized by the district as approved backflow prevention assemblies.

Install approved, testable, backflow prevention assemblies on commercial. Maintain Air Gaps. Do not submerge hoses or place them where they can be submerged. Be aware of and eliminate potential cross-connections. Do not create a connection between an auxiliary water system and the water supply plumbing.

A temporary or permanent connection potable water and anything that can pollute or contaminate the potable water supply.

There are two ways backflow can occur:

Backpressure: Backpressure can be created when pressure in the customer's water system exceeds the pressure in the potable water system. This can force the potable to reverse the direction of flow through a cross-connection between two systems. Pollutants and or contaminants can potentially enter the potable water system.

Backsiphonage: Backsiphonage can occur when there is a sudden reduction in the water pressure of the distribution system, such as a main break or fire fighting conditions. At these occurrences water can be reversed. This reversal can create a suction effect and draw potential pollutants and/or contaminants into the potable water system.

The undesirable reversal of flow of water or mixtures of water and other liquids, gases, or other substances into the Water Suppliers potable water supply system.

Yes! Go to the online payment site here.

All water pipes and fixtures on the customer side of the meter connection are the responsibility of the property owner. To avoid the effects of freezing weather on your pipes and fixtures, consult a professional who can help winterize your property.

Your water meter can be used to tell if you have a leak and/or to isolate where a leak is. Here's how:

1. Make sure all water in your house and yard are "off" so that no water is being used inside or outside the home, i.e, dishwasher or washing machine are not running, toilet has not been flushed, no one is using the shower, no flowing water from the bathroom or kitchen faucets, and no irrigation is running.
2. After removing the meter box lid and lifting the register lid up, look at the glass face of the register for a minimum of 5 minutes. Observe the blue triangle for movement.
3. If the blue triangle has moved, you most likely have water running somewhere along the customer service line, either outside or inside the home, and you will need to proceed to isolate specific areas to identify where the leak is.
4. Start by shutting off the main water supply to the home, isolating the inside from the outside, and observe the triangle for movement. If the triangle has stopped, you have identified the leak is somewhere inside the home.
5. Turn the main supply valve back on, and using a process of elimination, check the guest bathroom toilet first by shutting off the supply valve and observing the triangle for movement. If the movement has stopped, you have located the leak and can make necessary repairs.

Contact Customer Service at (760) 955-5001.

Contact Customer Service at (760) 955-5001.

Senate Bill No. 998 was adopted by the State of California on September 28, 2018 to establish the Water Shutoff Protection Act. This bill sets new restrictions on residential water service termination for non-payment of a water utility bill.

The City must comply with SB 998 by February 1, 2020.