September 23, 2011

Halton Region, Ontario mandating cross-connection plumbing survey

The Regional Municipality of Halton, Ontario announced this week it is working with institutional, commercial and industrial building owners to implement its Cross-Connection Control bylaw, which is intended to install backflow devices if necessary in private plumbing systems.

Last May, the regional council for the municipality revised its Cross-Connection Control Bylaw (#61-11) to ensure that appropriate backflow prevention devices are in place inside private institutional, commercial and industrial properties. The phase announced this week is aimed at properties in the town of Halton Hills and the city of Burlington. Halton is the upper level of municipal government for the area, which is about 60 kilometres west of Toronto. The region also includes the towns of Oakville and Milton.

The first phase of the cross-connection control program was rolled out in 2006. It involved surveying and installing backflow prevention devices at all buildings owned by the regional government. In 2007 and 2008, it was introduced to institutional commercial and industrial properties in Milton and Oakville. This phase will extend it to Burlington and Halton Hills, and will also include multi-unit residential buildings.

The regional government will send an information package to organizations asking for the completion of a cross-connection survey of their properties. Once the cross-connection surveys are received, staff will follow up to ensure the appropriate devices are in place and if necessary identify what devices need to be put in place in order to further protect the municipal water system. Organizations will be responsible to cover the costs of the work.

DCN DIGITAL MEDIA

Print | Comment