PCA Plumbing INC.

PLUMBING TIPS ♦ BACKFLOW PREVENTION

An ounce of prevention will go a long way toward keeping your home’s plumbing in top working order – and you’ll avoid costly repairs!

Faucets and Sinks

Even small drips can waste thousands of gallons of water, as much as 150 gallons a day! Be sure to check under sinks for moisture or small leaks. And always repair leaky faucets right away to avoid paying for wasted water, and also to avoid water damage to your fixtures and pipes.
Remove and clean your faucet aerators annually to ensure an even flow of water.
Make sure overflow holes on tubs and vanity are clear and open to prevent water damage to floors and ceilings.

Water Heater

Before doing any maintenance on your water heater yourself, be sure to shut off the power, and read your owner's manual.
You should periodically inspect your water heater burner. The flame under the heater should appear blue with yellow tips. If it’s mostly yellow, or if it’s sooty under there, your flue may be clogged, which is a dangerous situation. Contact a professional to check it out.
At least once every two years, have your water heater inspected by a service technician. He or she will also check the drain valve for signs of leakage, and the anode rods for corrosion.

Toilets

Toilet leaks can be wasteful and expensive. At least once a year, check your toilet for leaks by adding a small amount of red food coloring to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later. If the toilet bowl water is colored red, water is seeping through from the tank. If it is leaking, you should replace the tank ball.

Clogs

To help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer that catches hair and soap chips, and clean the strainer regularly.
Do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink. Liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and create clogs.
Avoid using caustic liquid drain openers (like Draino or Liquid Plumber) on a drain that is completely clogged. The caustic ingredients are trapped in your pipes, and it can severely damage them. If you can’t snake the drain yourself, contact a professional to do so.

Why do we need a backflow prevention program?

The objective of implementing a backflow prevention program within the City of Toronto is to take a proactive approach to protect drinking water quality, and public health and safety based on the following reasons:

Provincial acts and regulations require water purveyors to provide safe drinking water to the public.
The City of Toronto’s new Water Supply By-law is a consolidation of all similar by-laws enforced by former municipalities. A backflow prevention program is to standardize and enforce backflow prevention across the City.

What is Backflow?
Backflow is the undesired reversal of flow of non-potable water or other substances into the public drinking water supply system. Backflow is a result of a back-pressure or a back-siphonage.

What is Back-pressure?
Back-pressure is the reversal of normal flow in the water supply system when a downstream pressure is greater than the upstream pressure in the water supply system. The increases in downstream stream can be created by boost pumps, temperature increase in boilers, elevated water tanks or other pressure producing systems.

What is Back-siphonage?
Back-siphonage is the reversal of normal flow in the water supply system caused by a negative or reduced pressure, which can be created by an interruption of water supply due to nearby fire-fighting, shut-off for repairs or a water main break.

Why do backflow prevention assembly devices have to be tested periodically?

In order to ensure the proper operation of a backflow prevention assembly device, it must be tested and certified upon installation and at least once a year thereafter if installed to protect from a health hazard situation. Mechanical backflow prevention assembly devices have internal seals, springs, and moving parts that are subject to fouling, wear, or fatigue. The piping system can be bypassed. Therefore, a backflow prevention assembly device such as a Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB), Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA), or Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly (RP), has to be tested periodically with properly calibrated gauge equipment.

What is a cross connection?
Any actual or potential connection between the waterworks and any source of pollution, contamination, or other material or substance that could change the quality of water in the waterworks. This includes any bypass, jumper connection, removable section of pipe, swivel or changeover device, and any other temporary or permanent connecting arrangement through which backflow can occur.

What is a Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA)?
DCVA is a mechanical backflow prevention device that consists of two internally loaded check valves. It includes two shut-off valves and four test cocks. With the two check valves in series, a DCVA prevents backflow even if one check valve fails to close tight. It can be used to prevent backflow due to both back-siphonage and back-pressure where a minor or moderate hazard exists. Since no visible warning is given of failure of check valves, DCVA shall be periodically tested for efficiency.

What is a Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly (RP)?
RP is a mechanical backflow prevention device that consists of two independently acting, internally loaded check valves separated by a reduced pressure zone.

Who is a certified tester?
A certified tester of backflow prevention devices shall have the following qualifications:

A valid and current Certificate of Achievement in Cross Connection Control endorsed by Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA);
A current calibration certificate (with traceability to the National Institute for Standardization Technology (N.I.S.T.) for the test equipment to be employed; and
Authorized to perform the specified test tasks as indicated in the "Authorized Functions List Table" set out in Schedule 6 of the Water Supply By-law, which can be amended by the City from time to time.
For example, such as a person shall be a:
- Professional Engineer
- Licensed Master Plumber with Contractor's Licence

Who is responsible for the installation and annual testing of premise isolation backflow prevention devices?
The owner of the property or building, who currently has a service connection to the City's water supply or has applied for a new service connection, is responsible for installing the premise isolation backflow prevention devices. Also it is the owner's responsibility to hire a certified tester to annually test the devices.

Who is authorized to prepare and sign a backflow prevention device survey?
A person who prepares and signs a backflow prevention device survey shall:

Have a valid and current Certificate of Achievement in Cross Connection Control endorsed by Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA); and
Be authorized to perform the specified test task as indicated in the "Authorized Functions List Table" set out in Schedule 6 of the Water Supply By-law, which can be amended by the City from time to time.
For example, such as a person shall be a:
- Professional Engineer
- Licensed Master Plumber with Contractor's Licence

What is the consequence of non-compliance?
Pursuant to the Sections of Offences and Penalties specified in the Water Supply By-law (PDF):

A person who is convicted of contravention of Section 8 of the By-law (Schedule 3) can be fined up to not more than $100,000 for a first offence and any subsequent offence.
In addition, a corporation that is convicted of contravention of Schedule 3 can be fined up to not more than $100,000 for both a first offence and any subsequent offence.