Working with Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional Property owners, the Town of Strathmore prioritizes our community’s water supply.
Property owners are responsible for the control of cross connections to their water lines. This helps to minimize the risk of contamination to the community’s water supply through a backflow incident.
While protecting our water, we also want to reduce the risk of blockages or constrictions in sewer pipes to lessen the hazard of sewer-backup or overflow into buildings or streets and reduce maintenance and cleaning of congealed grease on settling tanks, digesters, pipes, pumps and other infrastructure.
| Cross-Connection Control | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What are cross-connections and backflows?
When drinking water piping connects to various plumbing fixtures or water utilizing equipment a cross-connection is created. If improperly protected, contamination can result when a backflow event occurs - allowing contaminates to reverse flow from the fixture/equipment back into the drinking water piping. Conditions that are likely to create a backflow event are typically common, but unfavorable, hydraulic events that occur within the public or private segments of the water distribution system such as: an owner or worker draining down a house or building to make a plumbing repair; a broken water main or distribution pipe; severe/widespread power outages; fire fighters using large quantities of water to extinguish a fire, or; a water utilizing piece of equipment or process creating pressures greater than those present in water distribution system. When these unfavorable hydraulic events are occurring, contaminates can be back-siphoned into the drinking water due to negative pressures; or contaminates can back-pressured into the drinking water due to excessive pressure imposed by the water utilizing piece of equipment or process. What is the Cross-Connection Control Program? If there's an incident resulting in contamination of public drinking water (due to improper or unprotected plumbing connections causing backflow), the owner responsible or occupant of the property can be held responsible for damages. The Town of Strathmore has initiated the Cross-Connection Control Program to help property owners reduce the risk of a contamination event they may be liable for. The program requires appropriate cross-connection control devices on all new industrial, commercial, and industrial (ICI) developments. Existing ICI properties are required to undergo retrofits or testing of backflow prevention devices. Many ICI properties in Strathmore have already installed backflow devices. Testing will help these properties to ensure their device is working properly. The Cross-Connection Control Program will significantly reduce the risk of contamination to Strathmore’s water supply. It will also reduce the liability of customers who could be sources of such contamination. What properties are affected by this program? The amendments to the Water Utility Bylaw are specific to Industrial, Commercial, or Institutional properties in Strathmore. However, any property owner - even a residential customer - is liable if an incident of contamination due to backflow originates on their premises. Who can install and test a backflow prevention device? Installation and/or testing must be completed by a certified Cross-Connection Control Tester. These professionals hold a current AWWA Cross-Connection Control Tester Certificate. View the Water Utility Bylaw for more information. View the Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control Policy for more information. |
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| Certified Testers, registered with the Town | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property owners are not obligated to use these testers. This list as provided as a courtesy. Ensure your tester's certification is up-to-date. Testers, not on the list but want to be? Complete the Certified Testers form and submit to infrastructure@strathmore.ca along with your credentials. |
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| Managing and Administering Backflow Prevention | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BSI Online ULC is North America’s leading cross-connection control/backflow data management and program administration firm. BSI Online has partnered with over 550 water purveyors to develop and manage effective cross-connection control programs to help protect all our water resources. BSI helps water purveyors by sending notifications, assists with customer service inquiries, and manages required data on behalf of the Town of Strathmore. The Town of Strathmore has contracted with BSI Online to assist the Town with Province required cross-connection/backflow tracking regulations. BSI Online will serve as the primary point of contact for the program and can be contacted below:
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| Fats, Oils, and Greases (FOG) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fats: Butter, margarine, ice cream, cheese, meat, etc.
Oils: Salad dressings, cooking or deep fryer oils, olive oil, sauces, etc. Grease: Chicken, hamburgers, bacon, etc. Disposing Fat, Oil and Grease Don't pour fat, oil or grease down a drain! FOG can build up and clog pipes, reduce plumbing flow and create odor, backups and environmental damage. Commercial Disposal Along with wiping and scraping FOG into the green bin (organics), grease interceptors can help contain FOG and prevent it from getting into the wastewater system. For grease interceptors to be effective, regular cleaning and maintenance are required. Property owners are responsible for installing, inspecting and cleaning grease removal devises. By properly inspecting and cleaning the grease interceptor you protect your plumbing, the Town's infrastructure, and our environment. View the Kitchen Best Practices Management for information on how to prevent grease from entering the our sewer system. View the Sanitary Sewer Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Management Policy for more information. Example a of grease interceptor and how they work;
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| Cross-Connection Control Report | FOG Interceptor Service Record |
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