Cross Connection Program

What is the Cross Connection Program?

All agricultural, industrial, commercial, and institutional water customers are required to install and maintain a backflow prevention device, to reduce the possibility of a back-siphoning or back-pressure event. Unlike customers in other category groups, agricultural customers may not have had these backflow prevention devices installed due to the age of the services.

These types of devices are mandatory because they protect the City’s drinking water supply by preventing backflow contamination.

Unlike some neighbouring communities, the City of West Kelowna provides potable water to all our customers including agricultural, industrial, commercial, institutional and residential. All water is treated and is connected to our network and therefore backflow preventers are an important tool for reducing the risk of contamination to the public drinking water system.

They are also required in accordance with Interior Health Regulations, BC Plumbing Code Section 2.6.2, and the City of West Kelowna’s Water Regulation Bylaw No.274.

Industrial, commercial and institutional Customers FAQ

The City of West Kelowna began an assessment program in March 2022 and are reaching out to all industrial, commercial and institutional buildings that require immediate assessment.

Our assessors will then work with you to come do an assessment and check for existing plumbing which could pose a threat to the water system in the event of backflow, this also identifies problems that could affect users of the building.

Our program will first focus on facilities for assessment that pose the highest potential risk to the drinking water system. All other industrial, commercial and institutional buildings will be contacted when they require assessment.

The assessment is a free service provided by the City of West Kelowna.

A representative will be contacting you to arrange access to your building so we can complete the facility assessment with your maintenance person or the person in charge of the facility.

We look forward to your cooperation in this matter. The Cross Connection Control Program will help ensure the best possible protection for clean and safe drinking water. 

Safety of drinking water is a public health issue. This is to ensure that hazardous NON-POTABLE water cannot be introduced into the water utility due to backflow, protecting both public health and those inside the building by reducing the risk of contaminants in the public water supply. 

The Cross Connection program includes all industrial, commercial and institutional properties. 

If you are the owner/operator of an industrial, commercial or institutional property, you have an obligation to take steps to protect the public and the public water supply by ensuring proper connections.

You are required to:

  • Make sure your plumbing connections meet BC Building Code and CSA Group Standards
  • Install appropriate backflow preventers
  • Test and register backflow assemblies according to the City of West Kelowna Water Regulation Bylaw

Agricultural Customers

Agricultural irrigation season dates

The irrigation season starts on April 1st and ends on October 15th. Extensions for early turn on, or late turn off must be submitted one week prior to the on/off date. On/off charges of $75.00 each will apply if the City is required to extend beyond these dates without the extension approval. 

To request this please fill out our Seasonal Irrigation Water On/Off Extension Form. 

  What is backflow? 

Backflow is a reversal of the normal direction of flow caused by back siphoning and back pressure.

Back siphoning occurs when the normal water pressure drops in the supply system. For example, when water pressure drops because of a water line break or shutdown, the water line acts like a straw, sucking back in to the system.

Back pressure occurs in heating and pump systems when the water pressure downstream of the supply is higher and pushes back. Heating systems create pressure because hot water expands and pump systems create pressure to move water to higher elevations or for uses that require more pressure.

Backflow Preventers 

Backflow Preventers are an important tool for reducing the risk of contamination of the public drinking water system during a backflow or back pressure incident.

Water should only flow one way, and that is into your building. A backflow preventer is a device that stops water from flowing in the opposite direction back into the main water supply.

Backflow Preventers require installation and annual maintenance by qualified professionals.

Backflow Prevention Device requirement

Agricultural customers must install a Backflow Prevention Device by the start of the irrigation season in spring 2025.

To avoid any potential service interruptions, the newly installed devices must also be tested by a certified tester and results submitted to the City prior to the spring 2025 deadline. 

Unlike some neighbouring communities, the City of West Kelowna provides potable water to all our customers including agricultural, industrial and residential. Agricultural water is treated and is connected to our network and therefore backflow preventers are an important tool for reducing the risk of contamination to the public drinking water system.

Backflow FAQ

Yes, Backflow Preventers are an important tool for reducing the risk of contamination of the public drinking water system during a backflow or back pressure incident.

All agricultural properties will need backflow prevention infrastructure installed.

Backflow Preventers are an important tool for reducing the risk of contamination of the public drinking water system during a backflow or back pressure incident.

Water should only flow one way, and that is into your building. A backflow preventer is a device that stops water from flowing in the opposite direction back into the main water supply.

Backflow Preventers require installation and annual maintenance by qualified professionals.

You may receive a letter stating that appropriate cross-connection control assemblies must be installed on your property to comply with the bylaw.

Contact a certified tester (i.e., journeyman plumber, mechanical contractor), who will install the cross-connection control on the identified water supplies.

Once you receive your Summary of Assessment outlying the work that needs to be done, owners need to communicate their plan and timeline of completion within 10 business days via email or other written communication to the City of West Kelowna.

  • Permits are required for all installations
  • Only certified plumbers should install backflow devices
  • All testable backflow assemblies must be tested annually

Backflow Preventers are mechanical devices and are subject to failure from wear and tear, corrosion, freezing, water conditions and misuse.

Annual testing ensures that the assemblies are operating as designed to prevent backflow of contaminated or polluted water into the drinking water system.

Business owners/operators should contact a licensed plumber or backflow tester to obtain pricing for their services. The cost of testing can vary between contractors and be impacted by the number of assemblies within your plumbing system.

Work with your preferred certified tester (i.e., journeyman plumber, mechanical contractor) to have the Backflow Preventer installed and tested. If you do not have a preferred plumber, you can contact the Cross Connection Control Coordinator at 778-797-2280 for a list of approved plumbers.

Plumbers who want to do this work and be added to our approved list can reach out to the City by emailing utilities@westkelownacity.ca.

If there is no response from the property owner within the timeline as indicated in the first and second letter of notification, a third letter of notification will be hand delivered by the City of West Kelowna Bylaw Department, and a copy will be mailed to the owner, with an expected response time of five business days to communicate their plan via email or other written communication to the City on the completion timeline of the deficiency.

  1. Failure to respond to the letter of notification from Bylaw may result in a ticket as per the Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw.
  2. Failure to complete the backflow prevention installation as per the site survey within the timeline indicated in the owner’s response to the City, may result in a ticket as per the Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw.

Supporting documentation

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