Backflow Information

On June 14, 2023, Oxford County Council endorsed Oxford County By-law No. 6544-2023 Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention to further safeguard the municipal drinking water system by preventing contamination from non-drinking water sources. Backflow events can significantly impact residents, businesses, and the environment by impacting water quality, posing a health risk to consumers, and causing service interruptions.
   

OXFORD COUNTY PROGRAM

The County program is a premise isolation program. Backflow Prevention devices (BPDs) required by Bylaw 6544-2023 are as follows:

• A premise isolation device, located within 6m downstream of any water meter providing municipal water to the property;

• A fire system isolation device as required by CSA B64 Standard or the Ontario Building Code;

• An irrigation system isolation device, separating any lawn sprinkler system from the rest of the property’s internal plumbing system. 
  

• Where opportunities for additional zone, area, or fixture isolation are identified, these are industry ‘best practices’, which will provide protection to potable water used by staff and customers. These best practices are not required under Bylaw 6544-2023.
  

• Cross Connection Control Surveys should be completed based on the existing cross connections at the time of survey. Potential future hazards should not be given consideration as they will be captured at the time of next survey, five years from the date of initial survey.
  

• If you have questions about why your property is surveyed as a moderate hazard, contractors can provide an explanation based on their survey. If there is an opportunity to eliminate the risk of the hazardous cross connection (such as installing hose connection vacuum breakers on all hose bibs) this option can be discussed with your contractor.

Certified BackFlow Tester

Pepper Plumbing is certified to perform backflow testing and we are able to acommodate any of the required backflow surveys and tests in Oxford County.

Link

https://www.oxfordcounty.ca/services-for-you/water-wastewater/backflow-prevention-program/contractor-list/

You can find us on this contractor list.