Cross Connection Control Program

March 7, 2005    Stratford Ontario

• Detergent from car wash was pumped into the municipal water system, making the municipal supply non-potable for 7 days

Labour Day Weekend 1997    Guelph Ontario

• A petroleum chemical backflows into the municipal drinking water system

October 1989    Edmonton, AB

• Contaminated water from a fire hose cabinet was discovered coming out of a drinking fountain

Jun 1987    Kitchener, ON

• On June 14, 1987 the employees of an electroplating plant in Kitchener, Ontario noticed the water from one of the plant's drinking fountains "looked like Kool-Aid" and had a metallic taste. By Friday, June 19, twenty-nine workers had reported being exposed to nickel contamination. Eleven were in the hospital, and six others were under observation by their family doctor for symptoms of nickel poisoning. Ingested nickel could harm the lungs, kidneys, liver and immune system.The nickel solution most likely entered the plant's water system by backsiphonage through a submerged inlet (cross connection) to a plating rinse tank.  The submerged connection was not protected by a backflow prevention assembly.

An Inspector from the Amherstburg Building Department will conduct a survey of all Industrial, Commercial, Institutional and some multi-residential properties to determine what action, if any, is required to bring these properties into compliance with the Cross Connection Control By-law.

Each property owner will be notified in writing of any action that may be required and a reasonable amount of time will be given in order to complete the necessary work.

The installation of testable backflow prevention devices will require a plumbing permit from the Amherstburg Building Department.  A copy of the Permit application is on the "Forms" page of this web site.

Some types of backflow prevention devices require annual testing to ensure that they are operating properly. A copy of the Device Test Report is available on the "Forms" page of this web site.  If your property requires the installation of a testable backflow prevention device, you will be notified by the Town each year, prior to your annual testing date. A permit is not required for the testing of Backflow Preventers.

Please note that the Cross Connection Control By-law allows only plumbers who are Cross Connection Control Specialists to install and test backflow prevention devices.  A list of contractors who are qualified to install and test backflow prevention devices can be found on the page entiled "Contractors".