Water System Protection Programs

The City of Kawartha Lakes offers programs to help protect municipal water and wastewater systems. These programs support property owners with preventing wastewater backups and protecting the municipal drinking water supply from contamination.

Learn more about the Backwater Valve Subsidy Program and the Water System Cross-Connection Control Program, including eligibility requirements, installation requirements and how to apply or comply.

Backwater Valve Subsidy Program

The City of Kawartha Lakes offers a subsidy to help eligible residential property owners install a backwater valve. A backwater valve helps prevent wastewater from backing up through your sanitary sewer line and into your home.

The subsidy covers 50 per cent of eligible installation costs. Review the program requirements below before starting your project.

Program eligibility

The Backwater Valve Subsidy Program is available to eligible residential property owners who are installing a backwater valve for the first time.

To qualify, the property must:

Be located within the City of Kawartha Lakes municipal boundaries
Be an existing residential home
Be receiving a first-time backwater valve installation

The program is not available for:

Institutional, commercial or industrial (ICI) properties
Replacement of an existing backwater valve

Eligible costs

The subsidy covers 50 per cent of the costs to install a backwater valve on the property's sanitary sewer line.

The subsidy does not cover:

Interior demolition or restoration, including paint, drywall or flooring
Exterior work, such as landscaping
Other costs not directly related to installing the backwater valve

Installation requirements

To qualify for the subsidy:

A building permit must be obtained before work begins
The backwater valve must be installed by a licensed plumber
All work must meet the program requirements

How to apply

Submit your application and all supporting documentation within one year of the installation being completed.

Mail your completed application and supporting documents to:

Backwater Valve Subsidy Program
322 Kent Street West, P.O. Box 9000
Lindsay, ON
K9V 5R8

Application review

Staff will review your application and determine whether you qualify for the subsidy.

Incomplete applications or applications missing required documentation will not be processed. All documents will be returned to you
If your application is denied, you will be notified by mail

Application form

Complete the Backwater Valve Subsidy Application Form

Water System Cross-Connection Control Program

The Water System Cross-Connection Control Program helps protect the City's drinking water supply from contamination. The program identifies cross-connections on properties connected to the municipal water distribution system and ensures that appropriate backflow prevention measures are in place.

A cross-connection is an actual or potential connection between the municipal water supply and a source of pollution, contamination or another substance that could affect drinking water quality.

Backflow occurs when water or another substance flows in the wrong direction, from a non-potable water source or unprotected plumbing system into the municipal drinking water system.

The program is part of By-law 2021-162, A By-law to Regulate Water and Wastewater Services.

Program requirements

The program primarily applies to industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) properties connected to the City's water distribution system.

The City identifies properties with cross-connections and notifies property owners when they must comply with the program.

Residential properties

Residential properties are not currently required to install backflow prevention devices unless they:

Have more than four units.
Are connected to an auxiliary water supply, such as an irrigation system.

Cross-connection surveys

Property owners who receive a notice from the City must hire a Qualified Person from the City's Qualified Persons Registry to complete a cross-connection survey.

The survey must be completed at the property owner's expense and submitted to the City within two months of receiving the notification letter.

Email completed surveys to casewww@kawarthalakes.ca.

Cross-connection surveys must also be completed:

Once every five years
When there is a change to the property's internal plumbing system or use
When required by the City

Qualified Persons

Qualified Persons are individuals who meet the City's requirements to complete cross-connection surveys and backflow prevention work.

A Qualified Person must:

Be registered with the City's Water System Cross-Connection Control Program
Hold a valid Certificate of Achievement in Cross Connection Control endorsed by the Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA), or an equivalent certification
Have a current calibration certificate for the testing equipment being used
Maintain commercial general liability insurance
Be authorized to perform the required tasks under the Authorized Functions List

Qualified Persons Registry

The City maintains a registry of Qualified Persons and backflow prevention device testers for property owners to use.

The City recommends obtaining several quotes before selecting a Qualified Person. These service providers operate independently from the City. The City does not endorse or provide warranties for their services or prices.

Property owners should check references, insurance and costs, and obtain a WSIB clearance certificate before work begins.

View the Qualified Persons Registry


Company Name	Phone number	Address	Approved Function(s)
Adamson and Dobbin Ltd	705-745-5751	407 Pido Road PO Box 352 Peterborough, ON K9J 6Z3	All functions
Ainsworth Inc.	647-746-6080	131 Bermondsey Rd. North York, ON M4A 1X4	All functions
Basil Mechanical Ltd.	647-325-3569	32-B Chauncy Ave. Etobicoke, ON M8Z 2Z4	All functions
BGIS	289-688-8377	4175 14th Avenue Suite 300 Markham. ON L3R 0J2	All Functions
Bruce Maly Plumbing and Drain Services Inc.	705-740-6035	840 Aylmer St. N Peterborough, ON K9H 3Y8	All functions
Caledon Creek Mechanical Limited	519-927-0190	18023 Horseshoe Hill Road Caledon, ON L7K 2B8	All functions
Carmichael Engineering	705-931-2842	2015 Fisher Dr Peterborough, ON K9J 6X6	All functions
Century Plumbing and Heating	416-485-4655	766 Gordon Baker Rd North York, ON M2H 3B4	All functions
Dalray Contracting	905-623-5280	285 Lake Rd. Bowmanville, ON L1C 4P8	All functions
Double R Plumbing	705-928-2856	28 Parkhill Dr, Fenelon Falls, ON K0M 1N0	All functions
Doyle Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling	705-939-6001	1316 County Rd 28 Fraserville, ON K0L 1V0	All functions
Eastman Plumbing	705-324-4061	416 Highway 36 Lindsay, ON K9V 4R1	All functions
Esker Plumbing Inc.	705-341-7763	155 Esker Rd. Omemee, ON K0L 2W0
Fine Air Mechanical Ltd.	705-487-1926	16 Winstar Rd. Unit 4 Oro-Medonte, ON L0L 2L0	All functions
G.O Tap Plus	416-695-4377	335 Watline Ave. Mississauga, ON L4Z 1P3	All functions
GPM Mechanical Kawartha Lakes Ltd.	705-917-1772	102 Broad St. Lindsay, ON K9V 0M2	All functions
Gravity Plumbing and Heating	705-344-6835	40 Needham St. Unit 2 Lindsay, ON K9V 5J9	All functions
Hamilton Smith Limited	613-962-2334 ext. 232	2241 Davis Rd. Cavan-Monaghan, ON K9J 0G5	All functions
Jackson Water Conditioning Ltd	705-439-2589	554 Woodville Rd Woodville, ON K0M 2T0	All functions
JDI Plumbing	647-272-1902	2700 Dufferin St. Unit 42 Toronto, ON M6B 4J3	All functions
John Sullivan Plumbing	705-292-8706	1158 Tara Rd Ennismore, ON K0L 1T0	All functions
Liquid Logics	705-793-2241	46 Log House Rd Dunsford, ON K0M 1L0	All functions
Mariposa Plumbing Ltd.	705-928-6241	21 Bruce St. Oakwood, ON K0M 2M0	All functions
McGuckin Plumbing	705-768-5719	58 Ellwood Crescent Trent Lakes, ON K0M 1A0	All functions
Peterborough Backflow Testing and Repair	705-749-7245	1158 Tara Road Ennismore, ON K0L 1T0	All functions
Proactive Water Solutions	416-249-2837	12-242 Applewood Crescent Vaughn, ON L4K 4E5	All functions
Robertson Fire Equipment	416-233-3934	50 Chauncey Ave. Toronto, ON M8Z 2Z4	All functions (Fire protection systems only)
Shawn Robinson Refrigeration Ltd.	613-315-2685	155 Iber Rd. Stittsville, ON K2S 1E5	All functions
Smith and Long Ltd.	416-209-2763	115 Idema Rd. Markham, ON L3R 1A9	All functions
SRA Fire Protection Inc.	905-424-3881	1631 Finch Ave. Pickering, ON L1V 1K3	All functions (Fire protection systems only)
Summit Mechanical	705-740-0202	749 The Kingsway Peterborough, ON K9J 6W7	All functions
Tec Mechanical Inc.	905-208-2723	3-3221 Derry Road W Mississauga, ON L5N 7L0	All functions
The Plumbing Wiz	705-313-5317	3562 Bramble Rd. Peterborough, ON K9L 1S8	All functions
Vandermeulen Plumbing Ltd.	705-742-3433	505 Parkhill Road West Peterborough, ON K9H 3J4	All functions
Watson Plumbing	705-886-0434	117 Southview Dr. Cameron, ON K0M 1G0	All functions
Zenmech Plumbing & Heating Ltd.	905-436-6338	7-1700 Baseline Rd. Courtice, ON L1E 2S8	All functions

For information on how to be added to the Qualified Persons Registry, contact changes, or concerns or questions related to the Water Systems Cross Connection Control program, please email casewww@kawarthalakes.ca

Backflow prevention devices

If a property is determined to be a moderate to high risk for cross-connection, the property owner must hire a licensed plumber from the Qualified Persons Registry to install the recommended backflow prevention devices at their own expense.

A plumbing permit is required before installing new devices. Contact the Building Division at 705-324-9411 ext. 1288.

Backflow prevention devices must be:

Tested when installed and every year afterward by a Qualified Person.
Fitted with a test tag after testing.
Reported to the City through the required test report.

Property owners are responsible for ensuring that test reports are submitted to the City on time and that information about their property remains current.

Program enforcement

The property owner is responsible for ensuring that only Qualified Persons listed by the City complete backflow prevention work.

If the City determines that a health hazard or potential health hazard exists, it may:

Immediately terminate water service.
Require disconnection of a cross-connection.
Impose fines.

Forms and resources

Contact

For questions about the Water System Cross-Connection Control Program, contact:

Public Works – Water and Wastewater Division
322 Kent St. W
P.O. Box 9000
Lindsay, ON
K9V 5R8

Email: casewww@kawarthalakes.ca

Questions? Contact Us

Email: inquiries@kawarthalakes.ca
Telephone: 705-324-9411
Toll free at 1-888-822-2225
After-hours emergencies: 1-877-885-7337

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