City of KitchenerBackflow Prevention

Program

A Pro-Active Approach to A Pro-Active Approach to Protecting the Potable Protecting the Potable

Water Supply in the City Water Supply in the City of Kitchenerof Kitchener

Presentation Agenda

BackgroundBackground IntroductionIntroduction

– purpose & definitionspurpose & definitions Backflow Prevention ProgramBackflow Prevention Program

– problem identificationproblem identification– by-law implementationby-law implementation– timingtiming

Question & AnswerQuestion & Answer

Background

Public Health Officials as well as Water Public Health Officials as well as Water Purveyors have long been concerned Purveyors have long been concerned over potential sources of water over potential sources of water contamination.contamination.

Program Purpose

The City of Kitchener has chosen to The City of Kitchener has chosen to take a pro-active approach with take a pro-active approach with respect to protection of the safe, clean respect to protection of the safe, clean drinking water it supplies to its drinking water it supplies to its consumers. This has resulted in the consumers. This has resulted in the establishment of a establishment of a Cross-Connection Cross-Connection Control Program Control Program which will supervise which will supervise the installation of mechanical the installation of mechanical safeguards in both the public and safeguards in both the public and private water distribution system.private water distribution system.

Program Purpose Enact Backflow Prevention Regulations Enact Backflow Prevention Regulations

to give the City the authority to to give the City the authority to implement the program, implement the program,

Identify any and all cross-connections Identify any and all cross-connections where potential contamination of where potential contamination of potable water may occur,potable water may occur,

Maintain a database of qualified Maintain a database of qualified backflow device testers and cross-backflow device testers and cross-connection auditors,connection auditors,

Maintain a database of water users Maintain a database of water users who have backflow prevention devices.who have backflow prevention devices.

Definitions

Owner - any person, firm or corporation Owner - any person, firm or corporation having management control over a having management control over a property to which this bylaw applies and property to which this bylaw applies and includes the owner registered on the title includes the owner registered on the title of the property and any occupant of any of the property and any occupant of any building or structure located on such building or structure located on such property.property.

DefinitionsHigh Hazard - any cross connection High Hazard - any cross connection involving a substance that, if ingested, involving a substance that, if ingested, could result in serious illness or death.could result in serious illness or death.

Medium Hazard - any cross connection Medium Hazard - any cross connection involving a substance which, if ingested, involving a substance which, if ingested, could cause health problems but unlikely could cause health problems but unlikely to cause death.to cause death.

Low Hazard - any cross connection Low Hazard - any cross connection involving a substance which could create a involving a substance which could create a nuisance but unlikely to cause serious nuisance but unlikely to cause serious health problems.health problems.

Definitions Backflow - a reversal in the normal Backflow - a reversal in the normal direction of flow within a piping system. direction of flow within a piping system. This can occur in two ways. This can occur in two ways.

Definitions

Example of Back Siphon effectExample of Back Siphon effect

Backflow Situations Common cause of Backflow due to Common cause of Backflow due to

the siphon effectthe siphon effect

Backflow Situations

Definitions

Example of “Back pressure”Example of “Back pressure”

Definitions Backpressure-process piping pressure Backpressure-process piping pressure may overcome the incoming city pressuremay overcome the incoming city pressure

Many of these situations, which may Many of these situations, which may seem innocent enough, have the seem innocent enough, have the potential to create disaster in the potential to create disaster in the potable water supplypotable water supply

Program Initiatives

Require that the building Require that the building owner/property manager provide a owner/property manager provide a professional audit of the entire potable professional audit of the entire potable water supply and distribution system for water supply and distribution system for their building(s) and prepare an audit their building(s) and prepare an audit report listing any and all cross-report listing any and all cross-connectionsconnections..

Program Timing

the implementation schedule is to be the implementation schedule is to be determined by the severity of the determined by the severity of the potentials for contaminationpotentials for contamination

protection of existing supply lines will protection of existing supply lines will be phased in from high hazard to low be phased in from high hazard to low hazardhazard

Backflow Prevention Regulations

Selection of Backflow Prevention Selection of Backflow Prevention DevicesDevices

Installation of Backflow Prevention Installation of Backflow Prevention DevicesDevices

Testing of DevicesTesting of Devices InspectionsInspections Date of Compliance Date of Compliance Cross-Connection ProhibitedCross-Connection Prohibited Persons Permitted to Carry Out WorkPersons Permitted to Carry Out Work

Public Involvement

This initiative is still fairly new from an This initiative is still fairly new from an enforcement perspective and the enforcement perspective and the Kitchener Building Division is open to Kitchener Building Division is open to suggestions regarding the suggestions regarding the implementation of this program implementation of this program

Questions,comments can be directed Questions,comments can be directed to Marc Hilker; Backflow Prevention to Marc Hilker; Backflow Prevention Officer for Kitchener Utilities at 741-Officer for Kitchener Utilities at 741-2840 or marc.hilker@kitchener.ca2840 or marc.hilker@kitchener.ca

Question & Answer Session

Acknowledgements

AWWA The Birks AWWA The Birks CompanyCompany

Conbraco Conbraco Watts Watts

Zurn Wilkins Zurn Wilkins CSACSA

Cameron InstrumentsCameron Instruments

University of Southern California University of Southern California

Kitchener UtilitiesKitchener UtilitiesThank you for attendingThank you for attending