Program Overview
In the interest of maintaining safe drinking water and in compliance with the Interior Health Authority, the City of Kamloops has established a formal Cross Connection Control/Backflow Prevention Program. This program is a condition of the Water Utility’s Permit to Operate and supports the requirements of the BC Drinking Water Protection Act and Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines . This includes policies and processes to address deficiencies or potential risks to the drinking water system from contamination through cross connection surveys, installation, testing, and maintenance of backflow prevention assemblies.
The City of Kamloops Cross Connection Control Program applies to Premise Isolation. Mandatory submission of annual backflow assembly test reports applies only to backflow preventers which provide Premise Isolation, although the City will accept all test reports.
The Cross Connection Control Bylaw helps protect drinking water from contamination through cross connections due to backflow. The bylaw, which is required by provincial legislation, calls on water suppliers to establish regulations to identify, eliminate, and prevent actual and potential cross connections with non-potable sources.
Glossary
Implementation Process
The Cross Connection Program is currently focused on Civic Facilities and properties deemed to have severe hazard water use processes.
The City will also be contacting high hazard Industrial, Commercial, Institutional and Agricultural property owners to arrange for a cross connection inspection and hazard assessment.
Results of the cross connection inspection and hazard assessment will be provided to the property owner along with a timeline to ensure all recommendations or requirements are completed to ensure compliance with the Cross Connection Control Bylaw. The consumer is required to respond in writing, indicating their intentions or plans to rectify potential hazards and requirements as identified on the survey report.
Backflow prevention devices used to protect the drinking water system from contamination must be tested annually.
Backflow assembly test reports are to be submitted through FAST Tester.
