To understand backflow, it is necessary to understand how your city’s water system functions. Clean, potable water is stored, by your city.  From that source it is forced outward to businesses and homes by means of water pressure.  Once that water is used by the businesses and home owners, the contaminated water is then flushed out of the system through the city sewer system.  That is how the system is supposed to work, and that is how the system works 99.9% of the time.

But every so often, because of a sudden dip in water pressure, it is possible for the water pressure at the receiving end (businesses and homes) to be greater than at the source end, and when that happens the water will reverse its flow. In other words, the polluted water will flow back towards the water supply.

What is Backflow?

Backflow Testing is the inspection of backflow devices which are used to prevent the occurrence of backflow in the water supply. A backflow device has internal seals, springs and moving parts that are subject to fouling, wear or fatigue. Therefore, all cross-connection control devices/ Backflows have to be tested periodically to ensure they’re functioning properly.

Since water quality is a matter of mutual concern and benefit, we recognized the need to comply with the city of Kelowna Cross Connection Control Program to protect water quality in the distribution system. Therefore, the program covers not only City Water Utility customers, but also the other water providers within our boundaries: Glenmore-Ellison Improvement District, Rutland Waterworks and Black Mountain Irrigation District.