Number of devices
Each backflow preventer is tested individually, so properties with multiple assemblies cost more than a single-device site.
DCVA & RP Annual Testing
Annual Backflow Preventer Testing
Certified testing, digital reporting, and full compliance with Toronto’s Backflow Prevention Program — handled end-to-end for your property.
What is annual backflow testing?
Annual backflow testing verifies that your backflow prevention device is working correctly and stopping contaminated water from flowing back into the public supply. Under Toronto’s Backflow Prevention Program, qualifying properties must be tested every 12 months by a certified tester, with results submitted to Toronto Water.
- Required once every 12 months for each device
- Newly installed or replaced devices must be tested immediately
- Performed only by certified testers with calibrated equipment
- Results must be filed within the City’s required timeframe
DCVA & RP Annual Testing
What our testing service includes
We don’t just run the test — we handle the entire compliance cycle so you have nothing to chase. Every device on your property is tested individually, documented, tagged, and filed. If a device fails, we manage the repair or replacement and retest it for you.
Certified testing
DCVA and RP assemblies tested with NIST-calibrated equipment.
Digital reporting
Clear, documented test reports for your records.
Device tagging
Each device tagged on-site per City requirements.
City submission
We file your results with Toronto Water on your behalf.
How It Works
Our process
1
Assess
We locate and identify every backflow device on your property.
2
Test
Certified testing with NIST-calibrated equipment, scheduled around your operations.
3
Report & Tag
Digital test reports and on-site device tagging.
4
Submit
We file results with the City so your property stays compliant.
On the Job
What testing looks like on site
Our certified testers connect a calibrated gauge to each device and verify it holds pressure correctly. The whole process is quick, documented, and scheduled around your operations.
DCVA vs. RP — which device do you have?
The two most common assemblies differ in their level of protection. Both require annual testing.
| Device | Best for | Protection level | Test frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Check Valve (DCVA) | Low-risk applications | Basic (two check valves) | Every 12 months |
| Reduced Pressure (RP / RPZ) | High-risk / high-hazard | Superior (added relief valve) | Every 12 months |
Who needs annual backflow testing?
If your property has a backflow prevention device, or has been flagged through a cross-connection control survey, annual testing is mandatory. The requirement applies broadly across the GTA’s commercial and institutional building stock.
- Restaurants, retail plazas, and office buildings
- Industrial facilities, warehouses, and manufacturing sites
- Schools, hospitals, and other institutional buildings
- Part 3 residential buildings under the Ontario Building Code
- Properties that received a compliance notice from the City
- Any site with an RPZ or DCVA installed for cross-connection control
What to expect on test day
A typical annual test is quick and minimally disruptive. Our certified tester isolates each backflow preventer, connects calibrated test equipment, and verifies that the check valves and relief valve (on an RP assembly) hold and operate correctly. Most single devices take well under an hour; multi-device properties are scheduled to avoid interrupting your operations. Water is briefly shut off at the device during the test, so we coordinate timing with your facility team in advance. As soon as testing is complete, we tag each device, prepare the digital report, and submit the results to the City — you don’t have to chase any paperwork.
What affects the cost of backflow testing?
Backflow testing is priced per device, so the total depends mostly on how many assemblies your property has and how accessible they are. We provide a clear quote up front — no surprises.
Device type & size
Larger RP assemblies and complex installations take longer to test than a small DCVA.
Accessibility
Devices that are hard to reach or require shutdown coordination can add time.
Repairs if it fails
If a device fails, repair or replacement is quoted separately before any work proceeds.
Receiving a City notice? Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote based on your specific property and device count.
Questions, Answered
Frequently asked questions
Every 12 months. Each device must be tested individually, and any newly installed or replaced device must be tested immediately after installation.
Corrective action is required before compliance is restored. We handle the repair or replacement, retest the device, and submit the documented results to the City.
Yes. We provide digital test reports, tag the device, and file the results with Toronto Water on your behalf.
Our equipment is calibrated annually with a 5-point verification and pressure test, traceable through the National Institute of Standards and Technology — so results are accurate and verifiable.
A single device is usually tested in under an hour. Properties with several devices take longer, but we schedule the work to minimize disruption to your operations.
Water is briefly shut off at the device being tested. We coordinate timing with your facility team so the interruption is short and planned.
Only a certified tester — a licensed Cross-Connection Control Specialist using calibrated, NIST-traceable equipment — may perform the test and submit valid results to the City.
You receive a digital test report for each device, the device is tagged on site, and we submit the results to Toronto Water so your compliance record is complete.
More Services
We handle every backflow need
Installation
Compliant installation of RPZ and double check valve assemblies by OWWA-certified plumbers — sized and installed correctly for your property the first time.
InstallationRepair & Replacement
Failed a test or have a non-compliant device? We repair or replace it, retest, and re-file with the City — restoring compliance without unnecessary delays.
Repair & ReplacementCross-Connection Surveys
A systematic survey of your plumbing system to find and eliminate cross-connections — the points where contaminated water could enter your clean supply.
Cross-Connection SurveysReady to get started?
Book service or request a quote — we serve commercial and industrial properties across the GTA.