Backflow testing FAQ

Testing is required once every 12 months. Each device on the property must be tested individually, and any newly installed or replaced device must be tested immediately after installation.

Backflow is the undesirable reversal of water flow that lets contaminated water enter the clean supply. It is caused by changes in water pressure — back pressure or back siphonage — and poses serious health risks.

A Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA) provides basic protection with two check valves for low-risk applications. A Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly (RP) adds a relief valve for superior protection in higher-risk, high-hazard applications.

Yes. Our team consists of OWWA-certified plumbers and Cross Connection Control Specialists (CCCS) experienced in backflow prevention testing, reporting, and tagging.

If a device fails, 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.

Backflow prevention testing is mandatory for industrial, commercial, institutional, and Part 3 residential properties as defined by the Ontario Building Code.

It is a systematic evaluation that identifies potential cross-connections in a water system where clean and non-potable water could mix. The goal is to eliminate or mitigate those risks — often by installing backflow prevention devices.

Absolutely. We encourage property owners to book annual inspections ahead of time so compliance deadlines are never missed. We will set a recurring schedule that suits your property.

Our test equipment is calibrated annually with a 5-point verification and pressure test. The calibration is traceable through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), so results are accurate and verifiable.

Yes. We provide digital test reports, tag the device, and submit results to the City on your behalf so your property stays compliant without the administrative burden.

They protect against different things. A backflow preventer sits on the incoming potable water line and stops contaminated water being drawn or pushed back into the clean supply — it is the device municipal cross-connection control programs require you to test every 12 months. A backwater valve sits on the sanitary sewer line and stops sewage backing up into a basement during heavy rain. Backwater valves are not part of backflow testing programs and are not something we test; our parent company, MT Drains & Plumbing, installs and services them.

No. Testing must be performed by a certified Cross Connection Control Specialist using calibrated equipment, because the test records pressure differential readings that have to be traceable to a known standard. A test carried out by anyone without that certification cannot be filed with the municipality, so the property stays non-compliant.

Yes, for qualifying properties. Ontario drinking-water system owners run cross-connection control programs administered municipally, and devices are selected under the CSA B64.10 standard. Industrial, commercial and institutional properties, Part 3 residential buildings under the Ontario Building Code, and construction sites are the classes typically covered, along with any property identified by a cross-connection control survey.