City Departments
Backflow Prevention
Backflow Prevention
The City of Cambridge has undertaken a Cross Connection Control Program to reduce the risk of contaminating our water supply. The cross connection program is designed to protect our potable water supply from pollutants and contamination that can be caused by backflow conditions.
What is backflow?
Backflow is the flowing back or reversal in intended flow.
How is this caused?
In order for backflow to occur, three things must be present:
1. a supply - most cases this will be the city water supply
2. a cross connection
3. a cause - will be either back siphonage or back pressure
What is a cross connection?
A cross connection in simple terms is the actual or potential connection between a potable (fit for human consumption) water supply or system and any non potable source.
What is an example of a cross connection?
The garden hose is an example of a cross connection. A person may use a garden hose to fill up a pool. One end of the hose is attached to the tap while the other end is submerged in the pool. When the pressure on the city side of the meter is lower than the house side of the meter, the potential is there for the water in the pool to get siphoned back into the city watermain. It is similar to a person using a straw from a can of pop. Now imagine if the garden hose were submerged in a tank to mix pesticides. The potential is there to contaminate the entire water supply!
In order to reduce the risk of contamination, the City of Cambridge has implemented a Cross Connection Control Program through a By-Law. Through this program, surveys are being required from all buildings other than single family residential. These surveys need to be completed by a qualified backflow prevention tester identifying any sources or potential sources of cross connections. An appropriate backflow prevention device must then be installed, registered and tested annually to ensure it is functioning properly.
Is there any fee or permit involved?
No. The annual testing and survey reports do not require a fee. However, if a new device needs to be installed it would require a building permit which would require a fee. Please Click Here to view "Fee Schedule-Building".
This page provides general information and should be read in conjunction with the current Cross Connection Control By-Law. For further information, please contact the Cross Connection Control Officer at 519.740.4613 Ext. 4514.
Related Material from the Ministry of the Environment:
Stratford Car Wash and Manager Fined $75,000
The City of Cambridge has undertaken a Cross Connection Control Program to reduce the risk of contaminating our water supply. The cross connection program is designed to protect our potable water supply from pollutants and contamination that can be caused by backflow conditions.
What is backflow?
Backflow is the flowing back or reversal in intended flow.
How is this caused?
In order for backflow to occur, three things must be present:
1. a supply - most cases this will be the city water supply
2. a cross connection
3. a cause - will be either back siphonage or back pressure
What is a cross connection?
A cross connection in simple terms is the actual or potential connection between a potable (fit for human consumption) water supply or system and any non potable source.
What is an example of a cross connection?
The garden hose is an example of a cross connection. A person may use a garden hose to fill up a pool. One end of the hose is attached to the tap while the other end is submerged in the pool. When the pressure on the city side of the meter is lower than the house side of the meter, the potential is there for the water in the pool to get siphoned back into the city watermain. It is similar to a person using a straw from a can of pop. Now imagine if the garden hose were submerged in a tank to mix pesticides. The potential is there to contaminate the entire water supply!
In order to reduce the risk of contamination, the City of Cambridge has implemented a Cross Connection Control Program through a By-Law. Through this program, surveys are being required from all buildings other than single family residential. These surveys need to be completed by a qualified backflow prevention tester identifying any sources or potential sources of cross connections. An appropriate backflow prevention device must then be installed, registered and tested annually to ensure it is functioning properly.
Is there any fee or permit involved?
No. The annual testing and survey reports do not require a fee. However, if a new device needs to be installed it would require a building permit which would require a fee. Please Click Here to view "Fee Schedule-Building".
This page provides general information and should be read in conjunction with the current Cross Connection Control By-Law. For further information, please contact the Cross Connection Control Officer at 519.740.4613 Ext. 4514.
Related Material from the Ministry of the Environment:
Stratford Car Wash and Manager Fined $75,000
Related Documents
| DOCUMENT | DESCRIPTION | DATE POSTED | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building Information | |||
| Contact Information Sheet | Contact Information Sheet | 2008-03-25 | PDF 13Kb |
| Instructions for Annual Testing (Backflow) | Instructions for Annual Testing of Backflow Prevention Devices | 2008-03-19 | PDF 20Kb |
| Instructions to Comply With Bylaw (Backflow) | Instructions to Comply With Water Use Bylaw 146-03 regarding Backflow Prevention | 2008-03-19 | PDF 19Kb |
| Cross Connection Survey | Cross Connection Survey | 2007-04-18 | PDF 232Kb |
| Backflow Prevention Device Testing and Inspection Report | Backflow Prevention Device Testing and Inspection Report | 2007-01-12 | PDF 199Kb |