| #Q001 | design | health | mandatory | Mandatory Backflow Device Installation | drinking water | To help protect the safety of the City’s drinking water, it is mandatory under the City of Toronto’s Water Supply By-law for property owners of industrial, commercial, institutional and Part 3 residential properties (as defined by the Ontario Building Code), as well as construction sites, to install a backflow prevention device on the water supply line(s) to their facility. | Applicable to industrial, commercial, institutional and Part 3 residential properties, and construction sites | high |
| #Q002 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA) Testing | drinking water | As DCVA valves can fail with no visible warning, they must be tested at least once a year to ensure proper operation. | Applicable to facilities classified as “moderate hazard” requiring a DCVA | high |
| #Q003 | design | operational | mandatory | Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly (RP) Installation | drinking water | RP devices must be installed in an area with adequate drainage and tested at least once a year. | Applicable to facilities classified as “severe hazard” requiring an RP | high |
| #Q004 | operational | operational | mandatory | Licensed Plumber Requirement | drinking water | Backflow prevention devices must be installed by a plumber licensed with the City of Toronto. | | high |
| #Q005 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Building Permit Requirement | drinking water | A building permit is required for all new installations and replacements. | For all new installations and replacements | high |
| #Q006 | design | health | recommended | Installation Location Recommendation | drinking water | Devices should be installed immediately after the water meter and by-pass piping. | | high |
| #Q007 | prohibition | health | mandatory | Branch Connections Prohibition | drinking water | There must be no branch or hose connections between the water meter/by-pass and the backflow device. | | high |
| #Q008 | design | operational | mandatory | Thermal Expansion Requirement | drinking water | Thermal expansion must be addressed within the private plumbing system as per Part 7 of the Ontario Building Code. | | high |
| #Q009 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | RP Below Grade Prohibition | drinking water | RP devices cannot be installed below grade in a pit, chamber or vault. | Applicable to Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly (RP) devices | high |
| #Q010 | design | operational | mandatory | RP Discharge Routing | drinking water | Discharges must be directed to a sanitary sewer. | | high |
| #Q011 | reporting | reporting | recommended | Record Retention | drinking water | Copies of any records submitted to the City should be kept on-site for a minimum of seven years. | | high |
| #Q012 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Hazard Level Notification | drinking water | The City must be notified of any changes to a property’s hazard level (i.e. due to tenant/operational changes). | | high |
| #Q013 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Backflow Device Testing Frequency | drinking water | Backflow devices must be tested: at the time of initial installation within 72 hours after a device has been cleaned, repaired, replaced, serviced or overhauled at least once a year | | high |
| #Q014 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Test Results Reporting | drinking water | Test results must be reported by a Certified Cross Control Specialist using the online test report form | | high |
| #Q015 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Test Tag Requirement | drinking water | A test tag that provides a historical record of test results must be attached to each device. | | high |
| #Q016 | reporting | reporting | recommended | Test Tag Content Recommendations | drinking water | Tags can be any size and colour and should feature the following: company name, address and logo, type and date of the device installation, manufacturer, serial number and size of the device, test date, tester’s name, initials and certification number, name of tester’s company | | high |
| #Q017 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Survey Report Submission | drinking water | The following Backflow Prevention Survey Report... must be completed and submitted to the City by the date specified in the letter, or within 30 days. | Upon receipt of a letter requesting completion of a survey | high |
| #Q018 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Survey Report Signatures | drinking water | The survey report must be signed by an authorized surveyor and the facility owner. | | high |
| #Q019 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Survey Update Frequency | drinking water | Surveys must be updated at least every five years, unless otherwise approved by the General Manager of Toronto Water, or within 30 days of any increase in hazard level. | | high |
| #Q020 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Tester Registration Documentation | drinking water | If you believe you meet the criteria listed in Schedule 6 of the Bylaw and would like to register with the Backflow Program, please email PDF copies of the following documents to backflow@toronto.ca. | To register as a tester with the Backflow Prevention Program | high |
| #Q021 | operational | operational | mandatory | Apprentice Plumber Supervision Requirement | drinking water | an Apprentice Plumber must be working under the supervision of a Master Plumber, or Journeyman Plumber with their Cross Control Specialist Certification. The supervisor must also be registered with the Backflow Prevention Program. | When an Apprentice Plumber is performing work | high |
| #Q022 | operational | operational | mandatory | Certified Engineering Technologist Limitations | drinking water | For a Certified Engineering Technologist (NOTE: Required to be under the direction of a Professional Engineer): documentation that demonstrates that your certification with the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists is in good standing. Can only test and carry out cross-connection/backflow prevention surveys on domestic supply and fire protection systems. | Applicable to Certified Engineering Technologists | high |
| #Q023 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Construction Wastewater Discharge Permit | wastewater | Disposing of construction wastewater requires a Discharge Permit or Agreement. | Applicable when disposing of groundwater, rain water, muddy water, or runoff from construction sites | high |
| #Q024 | operational | operational | mandatory | Erosion & Sediment Control Plan | other | Ensure your company has an Erosion & Sediment Control Plan and follow it. | Applicable to construction sites where soil is being disturbed | high |
| #Q025 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Ready-Mix Truck Washdown Prohibition | wastewater | Ensure cement/ready-mix trucks do not hose down onto the roadways or into catch basins. | | high |
| #Q026 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Dirt Tracking Prohibition | other | Do not allow any dirt from the site to be dragged out to City roads. | | high |
| #Q027 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Power Washing Prohibition | wastewater | Do not power wash construction dirt and waste onto the roadways or into catch basins. | | high |
| #Q028 | design | operational | mandatory | Catch Basin Inlet Protection | wastewater | Where land is being cleared, protect catch basins by covering the inlet with filter fabric or follow another approved method which will not allow sediment to enter the catch basin. | Where land is being cleared | high |
| #Q029 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Wash Water Runoff Prohibition | wastewater | Do not allow any wash water from the site to runoff into catch basins. | | high |
| #Q030 | prohibition | operational | recommended | Prohibited Storm Sewer Materials List | wastewater | The following materials should never enter catch basins: mud or sand; concrete or cement powder; truck/vehicle wash water; paint; oil or petroleum products; soap; chemicals; any construction material, debris or dust; and construction wastewater. | | high |
| #Q031 | operational | operational | recommended | Vehicle Washing Management | wastewater | Wash vehicles off-site at a car/truck wash or establish a designated wash area on-site. | | high |
| #Q032 | operational | operational | recommended | Regular Dry Street Sweeping | other | Regularly sweep streets, sidewalks and driveways using dry method/vacuum sweepers and dispose of waste properly. | | high |
| #Q033 | operational | operational | recommended | Off-site Vehicle Maintenance | other | Change vehicle oil and antifreeze off-site at designated facilities. | | high |
| #Q034 | operational | operational | recommended | General Debris Housekeeping | other | Maintain good housekeeping by properly disposing of all construction debris. | | high |