The Town of Aurora will be implementing a mandatory Backflow Prevention Program, under Backflow and Cross Connection By-law 6213-19. To comply with the Bylaw, all industrial, commercial and institutional, and multi-residential property owners have to install a backflow preventer on the water supply line to their property. Multi-residential properties are those that have more than six units sharing a single water service.
The purpose of the Program is to ensure that the Town continues to provide safe and high-quality drinking water to our community by decreasing the chance of backflow.
Backflow happens when water from private properties flows back into the municipal water distribution system. These properties may have internal connections (called cross connections) to water used for non-potable purposes. This can create unsafe situations because of the potential for contaminants to flow back into the drinking water system.
Customers will receive information about the program by mail followed by Notices to Comply with the Backflow and Cross Connection Bylaw.
The bylaw will require industrial, commercial, institutional, and multi-residential property owners to undertake the following at their properties:
Conduct a survey |
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Install and/or test the backflow prevention device |
It is the responsibility of the selected contractor to determine the degree of hazard and type of device to be installed. These must be done according to the Canadian Standard Association - CSA B64. The program will be rolled out in three (3) phases:
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Learn more:
How Does Aurora's Drinking Water System Work? |
The Town of Aurora distributes clean, safe drinking water through the local distribution system to individual customers. York Region supplies treated drinking water to the Town. The drinking water supplied by the Region is a blend of water sourced from Lake Ontario and ground water wells. Under certain rare conditions, water from a private property could flow back into the Town’s drinking water system, creating an unsafe situation. Here’s how:
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Backflow Prevention By-Law |
The Town of Aurora is taking steps to ensure that our drinking water continues to be clean and safe. The Town is legally responsible under the Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 19, Standard of Care to do its due diligence. Installation of backflow preventers is required under Section 7 of the Ontario Building Code and is considered to be industry best practice. To comply with the Bylaw, Industrial, Commercial and Institutional and multi residential property owners will be required to:
Residential property owners will not be impacted by this bylaw at this time. However, a residential property may be subject to the bylaw if it poses a high risk for contaminating the water supply.
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Frequently Asked Questions |
Is this program related to basement flooding and installation of backwater valves on sewer lines? Why is a Backflow Prevention Program (BFPP) Needed? What is a Cross-Connection? Cross connections pose a hazard to the drinking water system if backflow occurs and contaminated water from a building is drawn back into the drinking water system. A connection is any temporary or permanent connection between a municipal drinking water system and any source or system containing non-potable water or other pollutants. Examples of cross connections are the connection between a public water system and a heating/ cooling system, or a fire system, or an irrigation system, etc. Cross connections pose a hazard to the drinking water system if backflow occurs and contaminated water from a building is drawn back into the drinking water system. What is Backflow? What Causes Backflow? Backpressure: Occurs when the pressure within a building’s plumbing system is greater than the pressure in the drinking water system. This results in the water within that building being forced backward and into the Town’s drinking water system. These situations can occur at high rise buildings as a result of increasing pressures to pump water to the upper floors or at industrial buildings from pumps within the processes. Back Siphonage:Occurs when the pressure in the drinking water system is decreased due to a watermain break, hydrant flushing operations or firefighting operations. How often does backflow and contamination of the drinking water system happen? The opportunity for backflow occurs whenever there is a large difference in pressure between the private system and the Town's drinking water system. The occurrence of major pollutants entering the drinking water system is less frequent but can happen at any time when there is backpressure or back siphonage and no backflow prevention device is installed. What properties does the Backflow Prevention Program apply to? This program applies to existing and new industrial, commercial, institutional, as well as mixed-use and multi-residential buildings. It also applies to any property that poses a risk to the quality of the Town's drinking water and safety of our community, regardless of property class. How does this program apply to Townhouses? This program does not apply to townhouses where there are individual water services to each townhouse from the Town’s drinking water system. However, in cases where there is a single water service line from the Town’s drinking water system for the entire subdivision, backflow prevention will be required. Would any buildings be exempt or grand-parented under the program? What is the definition of a Multi-Residential Building? Who is responsible for meeting he BFPP requirements? What are my responsibilities to comply with the Backflow prevention bylaw? The owner of the property or agent of the owner must ensure that the following activities are performed, and reports submitted to the Town within the timelines indicated in the by-law:
Will there be Administration Fees? What are the consequences of not complying with the requirements of the Backflow prevention program? What is a Backflow Preventer? A Backflow Preventer is a mechanical device that prevents the backflow of water into the public drinking water system. The type of device required for your facility is based on the hazard level your facility is classified as. The types of Backflow Preventers used for premise isolation are: Reduced-Pressure Principle Assembly and Double Check Valve Assembly. What is Premise Isolation? Premise isolation is the separation of Town’s drinking water distribution system from the private plumbing system through the installation of a testable backflow prevention device downstream of the water meter. Where should I install the Backflow Preventer? Backflow preventers are typically installed on the water service connection, on the private side, immediately downstream of the water meter and upstream of any connections. This location must meet the requirements of the Ontario Building Code (OBC). A building permit must be obtained from the Town’s Building Services prior to installation. If you have a unique situation where the location of the backflow preventer may not meet the requirements of the OBC, we encourage you to contact Water Services to discuss your situation. Will the water pressure be reduced within the private plumbing due to the installation of a premise isolation backflow preventer? Yes. The installation of a backflow preventer will reduce the water pressure within your facility. Please consult with the contractor to ensure that there will be adequate water pressure for your processes after the backflow preventer is installed. Is a Building permit required to install the Backflow Preventer? Why do Backflow preventers need to be tested periodically? Backflow preventers have internal parts that can wear and tear, so they must be tested periodically, by qualified persons, to ensure they are working properly. Where can I obtain the required forms? Who is authorized to perform the work required for the Backflow Prevention Program? Only those persons with the required qualifications listed in the Authorized Functions List, attached as Schedule "A" to the by-law may carry out the corresponding functions shown. Persons performing Cross Control Surveys and Testing of Backflow Preventers must provide to the Town proof of qualification along with the following:
Companies registered with Town’s Backflow Prevention Program can be contacted and hired by property owners to survey, install and test backflow devices. Before hiring a contractor ensure he/she has proper certification. Note: The Town of Aurora does not endorse Qualified Companies or Qualified Persons and does not accept liability or assume responsibility for work completed by companies under this program. How can a qualified company/qualified person register for the BFP program? If you would like to register with Town’s Backflow Prevention Program, please complete a Qualified Company & Qualified Person Registration form found under downloads on this page and submit it to us using the methods indicated on the form, along with all applicable credentials as specified. What are the estimated costs to property owners? The initial cost would depend on the fees charged by a qualified person to undertake the survey, install the backflow preventers and perform the tests. The backflow preventer cost would depend on the type of device recommended for installation and the location. Once the device is installed and tested, the cost to the owner would be the annual cost of testing and any required repairs. Will there be incentives or rebates to property owners? No. The program is mandatory to ensure that the Town’s drinking water remains safe for consumption. For more information, send us an email at: backflow@aurora.ca |
Get Involved |
Property owners of all IC&I and multi-residential (6 or more units) please complete the Information Request Form and to submit it to the Town by January 31, 2020.
Property owners must undertake a Cross Control Survey using the services of a qualified person and submit the reports to the Town by March 31, 2020. A list of qualified persons to conduct the surveys and perform the testing is available below in the downloads section. Share your thoughts on the Backflow Prevention Program by email at backflow@aurora.ca
More information is available: |