Cross-Connections & Backflow

These are often requested due to questions and concerns from building owners and operators to ensure they are meeting current requirements. Inspections may also occur with no notice if the City has reasonable suspicion of any risk of contamination to the water supply or where backflow prevention measures are believed to be absent. 

The Cities Act authorizes a designated officer to enter that land or building at any reasonable time and carry out the inspection. The inspection in almost every case should not cause a disruption to the operation of the facility or require the interruption of the water supply. During the inspection, our team will require access to all areas with piping and equipment/fixtures connected to the water supply. Our inspectors will document and photograph a variety of items connected to or using water. Some examples are existing backflow prevention devices, water metres, plumbing fixtures, fire sprinkler systems and an assortment of equipment used for heating/cooling, food preparation, medical, sanitizing, etc.

The information collected during the inspection is stored internally and will not be released to any third party without consent.  Any necessary requirements post inspection will be conveyed to you via a letter of requirements.

• Leaving a minimum gap of at least 1” between the water supply and a potentially contaminated water source
• Create a minimum gap of at least 1” for all indirect connections to the sewer. An example of this would be the drain hose to a floor drain from a water softener.
• Attach a hose connection vacuum breaker to outdoor taps. Avoid placing the hose end in contaminated water, such as a dishpan, a wading pool, fish tank or pail. Never leave the hose unattended when utilizing a chemical or pesticide sprayer and disconnect immediately after use.
• Any homes using boiler heat require a backflow prevention device on the water supply to the boiler regardless of the use of chemical. Consult with a licensed plumber and consider alternative means that do not require a direct connection to add pressure to the system.

What type of backflow prevention is required?
The type and location of a backflow preventer is based on the hazard level of the facility or equipment, accessibility of the location, and the potential for changes within the building or property. Maintaining a physical unobstructed Air Gap (as per the National Plumbing Code of Canada) is the best defence from backflow conditions as there are no mechanical components. An example of an Air Gap is the distance from the end of your faucet to the highest point or “flood level” of a sink. Placing a hose below the flood level of any fixture negates this Air Gap. In some cases, an Air Gap is not practical or feasible due to potential of contamination (such as leaving a connected hose on the ground) or devices requiring constant pressure (such as a direct water feed to a boiler). These require the installation of a mechanical backflow prevention device.

There are some options if you have concerns about backflow prevention within your facility. The City will perform inspections upon request and notify you in writing of the required devices for backflow prevention. Alternately, an AWWA licensed mechanical contractor may perform an assessment (at your discretion and expense) and communicate the findings to the City for review.

Why do I need to make changes? Nothing has happened or changed since the last building inspection.
There are no “grandfather” clauses that apply to cross-connection control. Many customers believe that their facility is not subject to the regulations. Previous inspections have been successful, and the property was compliant at the time. Therefore, these “new rules” do not apply to me. That is not true.

Any hazard must be isolated from the drinking-water supply regardless of when the hazard was first created or the site constructed. It is important to note that code requirements consistently change and your facility shall be evaluated based on current industry best practices and code requirements. Due to the severity of health risk, existing applications cannot remain unabated or under-protected simply because they were potentially approved under some former version of code or potentially approved by a former inspector.

Our business received a letter from the City. What does this mean and who should I contact?
The Water Metering and Cross Connection Control Inspection Report lists all the necessary corrections noted at the time of the inspection.

Should you have any questions regarding the contents of the letter, duration for requirements to be completed, budget restraints, or any other concerns, contact the Cross Connection Control program as soon as possible after receipt. Our team is practical and aware, so communication is crucial should you encounter any issues. Lack of communication and ignorance of the rules does not absolve you or your business from responsibility. Failure to comply with the requirements can lead to fines and a possible termination of water service to the property.

An AWWA licensed mechanical contractor can perform the required corrections for your facility. This list of contractors is available below under Testing Requirements. Any AWWA licensed contractor is qualified to test backflow devices but that contractor should be knowledgeable of the mechanical systems connected to or associated with them.

Testing Requirements
All backflow devices are required to be tested at least once per year. All mechanical devices are subject to wear and must be tested with calibrated equipment to ensure they are properly functioning. In addition, devices require testing upon installation or replacement and after cleaning, repair, or service. The testing/maintenance of these devices and all expenses are the responsibility of the business or the property owner.

The testing of these devices must be performed by a Cross Connection Control Specialist certified by the American Water Works Association and licensed by the City of Regina. The list of companies below employ licensed AWWA testers and maintain calibrated test equipment. This list is for informational purposes only and does not represent or imply approval or endorsement by the City of Regina.

Record Keeping
Copies of the Testing and Inspection report should be kept on location with the device(s) and made available upon request. A copy of the report should be provided to you by the licensed contractor performing the test. In addition, it is the responsibility of the tester to provide a copy of the report to the City.

We review these licences on an annual basis and update information as needed. We do not endorse the service providers listed and residents should complete their own research before engaging any services.

How do I become licensed to test backflows?
Prior to obtaining a license to test backflow devices in the City of Regina, you must be a certified as a Cross Connection Control Specialist by the American Water Works Association (AWWA). This certification is valid for 5 years on completion. Be advised that you must continue to recertify every 5 years prior to the certification expiry date. This course is offered through an accredited college or institution which can provide pricing and availability for upcoming courses.

After receiving your AWWA certification, you may register with the City and apply for a testing license. Ensure the following is completed and included with your request for licensing:

• Completed License Application (Section A for new testers)
• Copy of your AWWA Cross Connection Control Specialist certification
• Current Accuracy Verification or calibration certificate for any of the test equipment you will be utilizing to test cross-connection control devices.

Our program will issue a license that is valid for one year from the date of application. You will be required to renew this license annually providing your AWWA certification remains valid.

How do I renew my license?
To apply for a renewal, you must provide:

• Completed License Application (Section B for existing testers)
• Current Accuracy Verification or calibration certificate for any of the test equipment you will be utilizing to test cross-connection control devices.

A copy of your AWWA certification is not required (providing it is still valid) as this is already on file with our office. In order to maintain your license, our jurisdiction requires the tester to be active and test a minimum of 6 devices per year. If you have not tested 6 devices, some of the institutions that provide certification may allow testing of the devices used in the course.

How to submit test reports and license documents
Our program is transitioning to paperless for submission of test reports. We are still accepting and providing paper copies of Testing and Inspection Reports and license documents. Documents must be signed and dated by the tester along with all pertinent information filled out or they will not be accepted.  

Email submission of documents is by email to: crossconnection@regina.ca

Mail submission of documents to:

Cross Connection Control Program
Queen Elizabeth Court II
2476 Victoria Avenue
PO Box 1790
Regina, Sask S4P 3C8

Testing and Inspection Report

Important Information

• Ensure all relevant areas are completed prior to submission of test reports. Incomplete or forms absent of signatures will not be accepted.
• Any tests performed after the expiry of your City of Regina license, AWWA certification, or equipment calibration will not be accepted. You and/or your organization is responsible for monitoring these items and to proactively reapply prior to expiry. Our program is not sending notice for expiry of licenses or certifications. Contact our office at any time for updates.
• The test reports are to be submitted to our office as soon as possible after the test. Retaining records causes submittal of unnecessary notices to customers and the accuracy of our records of test dates depend on receiving your results. Reports submitted after an extended period of time may not be accepted and may require a retest.
• Ensure to submit failed test reports immediately to our office and do not retain until repairs are completed. Contact our team if you require additional time for repair due to availability of parts, site restrictions, etc.
• The test tag provides a historical record for the backflow device. These must be filled out on installation of a device and for each test (pass or fail). If an existing device does not have a tag, ensure to place a tag on the device at the time of testing. These tags are available at the Public Works Yard or can be sent by mail on request.
• Ensure testing of backflow devices are performed as outlined by the requirements of the most current versions of AWWA and CSA.
• When recording the serial number of the device, verify the serial number on the device itself. Do not assume the notice to test or the assembly tag has the correct information as devices can change without proper notice or procedure.

If you have questions or concerns about a potential or existing cross-connection contact our program. Rest assured our team will not disclose any concerns you bring forward about potential hazards without your consent (please be aware that in some situations a severe hazard may present where we must take immediate action).

If an incident such as this occurs resulting in the contamination of the public water supply the responsible party (owner/occupant) may be liable for the resulting consequences which can include property damage, sickness, and in some cases death.

Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment requires the City to provide notice to consumers about the quality of water produced and supplied. The City is also required to provide information on the performance of its drinking water system and submit water samples. A variety of tests are conducted on a weekly and annual basis. This information is reported to our regulator, the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency.