Backflow Prevention Program

Backflow Prevention Program
330 Wentworth Street North
Hamilton, ON L8L 5W2
Call 905-546-2489
The City's Prevention of Backflow By-law 10-103 ensures that the City of Hamilton drinking water quality and distribution system is protected from each industrial, commercial, institutional or multi-residential property. Under backflow conditions, contaminates from these properties could enter the drinking water system when a property is not sufficiently backflow protected.
The By-law affects all:
- Industrial properties
- Commercial properties
- Institutional properties
- Multi-residential properties four stories or higher
What is Backflow?
The flow of water through a pipe in a direction opposite to that which is normal or intended. When this occurs, contaminates may be drawn back into the City’s water distribution system unless prevented by a backflow preventer.
Two types of backflow that can occur:
- Backpressure is backflow that can be caused when the pressure within the private water supply system is greater than the water pressure supplied by the City’s water distribution system. Can be caused by things such as booster pumps located on the property.
- Backsiphonage is backflow that can be caused by a pressure drop in the City’s water distribution system which could draw water from the private property back into the City’s water distribution system. Can occur due to a watermain break, or excessive demand on the system such as fire fighting.
What is a Backflow Prevention Device?
A Backflow prevention device is a mechanical device installed on a water service downstream of the water meter to prevent backflow.
Backflow Survey Requirements
Property owners with a water service line entering their property that is 38 mm (1.5 inches) in diameter or smaller need to complete a Self Assessed Survey once every 5 years. This will determine the level of backflow risk associated with your property. If there is more than one business located on your property a survey must be completed for each individual business.
Download & Completed the Backflow Self Assessed Survey
- Email the completed survey to [email protected]
- Send the completed survey by mail to:
City of Hamilton
Backflow Prevention Program
330 Wentworth Street North
Hamilton, ON L8L 5W2
If you require more information to complete your Self Assessed Survey call Customer Service at 905-546-2489.
Property owners with a water service line entering their property that is 50mm or larger or are deemed by the City of Hamilton through the Self Assess Survey to require a completed Cross Connection Survey.
Hire a contractor from the approved City of Hamilton list of contractors. The contractor will complete a Cross Connection Survey to determine the hazard level associated with your property.
Submit an original signed copy of the Cross Connection Survey and the fee within 14 days of completing the survey in person or by mail to:
City of Hamilton
Backflow Prevention Program
330 Wentworth Street North
Hamilton, ON L8L 5W2
You will receive a Cross Connection Survey Acknowledgement by mail from the City of Hamilton. It will identify the hazard level based on the completed Cross Connection survey and determine the appropriate backflow prevention device required for your property.
Backflow Prevention Devices
Register as a Contractor
There are four categories of contractors that can register under the Backflow Prevention program to carry out functions listed in the Backflow Prevention By-law including:
- Plumbing companies
- Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installers
- Professional engineers
- Corporations
The City of Hamilton will issue one permit number per company. The Master Plumber or P. Eng. must do all registrations. In the case of a corporation, the corporation has to register the qualified trades in person for in house work only.
The company pays a registration fee every year. It is your responsibility to ensure that all licenses are kept up to date with the City or you will be classified as inactive and unable to submit any documentation under your permit number.
You must register in person as a contractor at:
City of Hamilton
Public Works, Hamilton Water Division
330 Wentworth Street North
Hamilton, ON L8L 5W2
Depending on the category, you will need to bring copies of these documents for our records:
Plumbing Company
The Master Plumber must complete the registration. You can register any Journeyman Plumbers and Apprentice Plumbers under your company. You need to provide copies of these documents:
- City of Hamilton Master Plumbing License
- City of Hamilton Contractors License
- Journeyman Plumbers: Journeyman’s License along with an OWWA or ASSE Testers Certificate
- Apprentice Plumbers: Contract of Apprenticeship along with an OWWA or ASSE Testers Certificate
- Calibration Certificate for your backflow device test equipment
Fire and Sprinkler Installation Company
The Master Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer must complete the registration. You can register under your company any:
- Journeyman Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer
- Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer
- Apprentice Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer
You need to provide copies of these documents:
- City of Hamilton Master Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer License
- City of Hamilton Contractors License
- Journeyman Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer: Journeyman’s License along with an OWWA or ASSE Tester Certificate
- Apprentice Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer: Contract of Apprenticeship along with an OWWA or ASSE tester Certificate
- Calibration certificate for your backflow device test equipment
Professional Engineers
The P. Eng. must complete the registration. You can register any certified Engineering Technologists under your company. You need to provide copies of these documents:
- Your P. Eng. Diploma or wallet card along with an OWWA or ASSE testers certificate
- CET: your CET certificate along with your OWWA or ASSE testers certificate
- Calibration certificate for your backflow device test equipment
Corporations
The corporation must complete the registration. You can register under your corporation any:
- Journeyman
- Plumbers or Apprentice Plumbers
- Journeyman Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer
- Apprentice Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer
You need to provide copies of these documents:
- A letter on company letterhead indicating that the corporation authorizes the individuals to carry out functions for in house use only
- Journeyman Plumbers: Journeyman’s plumbing license along with an OWWA or ASSE Testers Certificate
- Apprentice Plumbers: Contract of apprenticeship along with an OWWA or ASSE Testers Certificate
- Journeyman Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer: Journeyman’s license along with an OWWA or ASSE Tester Certificate
- Apprentice Sprinkler and Fire Protection Installer: Contact of Apprenticeship along with an OWWA or ASSE Tester Certificate
- Calibration certificate for your backflow device test equipment
Approved List of Contractors as of April 22, 2025
COMPANY NAME | ADDRESS | PHONE | |
---|---|---|---|
1844813 ONTARIO LTD.ROTO ROOTER | 617 PARKDALE AVE N UNIT 8A HAMILTON, ON L8H 5Z1 | 905-570-8788 | |
A-1 PLUMBING & MECHANICAL INC. | 440 LAKE AVE., N UNIT 1 HAMILTON ON L8E-3C2 | 905-662-7444 | |
AARON ATKINSON | 617 PARKDALE AVE N UNIT 8A HAMILTON ON L8H 5Z1 | 905-570-8788 FAX: 905-664-4395 | |
ADAMS PLUMBING | 94 LYNDEN RD LYNDEN ON L0R 1T0 | 905-627-7739 | |
AINSWORTH | 131 BERMONDSEY RD TORONTO ON M4A 1X4 | 416-751-4420 | |
ANTHONY BARNABY | 3400 14TH AVE UNIT #8 MARKHAM ON | 647-308-0742 | |
ARCHIE HORN & SON | 31 BIGWIN ROAD UNIT 1 HAMILTON ON L8W 3R3 | 905-318-5020 | |
AW REANEY | 189 CEDARDALE AVE STONEY CREEK ON L8E 1R4 | 289-308-6665 | |
BACKFLOW PRO/TESSCO PLUMBING | 21 HOBART CRES BRANTFORD ON N3P 1V5 | 519-750-4244 | |
BATES GROUP INC. O/A BATES PLUMBING | 401 VAUGHAN VALLEY BLVD VAUGHAN ON L4H 3B5 | 905-850-7777 | |
BESSELING MECHANICAL INC | 79 COVINGTON STREET HAMILTON ON L8E-2Y4 | 905-560-0200 FAX: 905-560-0505 | |
BINBROOK PLUMBING LIMITED | RR#1 4045 GUYATT RD BINBROOK ON LOR 1C0 | 905-549-7252 | |
BLACK & MCDONALD | 328 GREEN RD STONEY CREEK ON L8E 2B2 | 905-560-3100 ext.610 FAX: 905-662-5882 | |
BRIAN YOUNG P.ENG.(PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER- | 79 ABBOTSFORD TRAIL HAMILTON ON L9B 0A4 | 905-679-3713 | |
BUCCILLI PLUMBING | 47 WASHINGTON STNORWICH ON NOJ1P0 | 519-757-5850 | |
CENTRAL PLUMBING & HEATING | 601 GREEN MOUNTAIN RD E STONEY CREEK ON L8J 2Z7 | 905-527-2406 | |
COVE MECHANICAL INC | 850 LEGION RD, UNIT #12 BURLINGTON ON L7S 1T6 | 905-632-2683 | |
CULLITON INC | 473 DOURO ST STRATFORD ON N5A 6W3 | 519-271-8309 ext.8309 | |
DALCRO MECHANICAL CONTRACTING LTD | 1402 HAIG BLVDMISSISSAUGA ON L5E 2N1 | 905-274-2657 | |
DDK PLUMBING AND HEATING | 22 BROOKHURST CRESCENT WATERDOWN ON L0R 2H3 | 905-690-1483 | |
E.S.FOX LTD | 1202 EGERTER RD S PORT ROBINSON ON L0S 1K0 | 905-384-9999 | |
EXPERT PLUMBING AND DRAINS INC | 3327A Mainway BURLINGTON ON L7M 1A6 | 888-300-1015 | |
EOS MECHANICAL INC | 30 Great Gulf Dr UNIT 27 VAUGHAN ON L4K 0K7 | 647-621-6811 | |
EVERDING FIRE PROTECTION LTD | 270 MILL ST KITCHENER ON N2M 3R5 | 519-578-6100 | |
FRED'S MAINTENANCE & REPAIR | 11 ROSS AVE HAMILTON ON L8W 2N2 | 905-961-8123 | |
FULL FLOW PLUMBING | 1290 RENFIELD DR BURLINGTON ON | 416-317-5069 | |
G.O. TAP PLUS INC | 335 Watline Ave MISSISSAUGA ON L4Z 1P3 | 416-695-4377 FAX: 905-564-7640 | |
GLAD MECHANICAL | 901 SLOAN CIRCLE DR CHURCHILL ON L0L 1K0 | 416-605-1755 | |
GLENN RICHARDSON PLUMBING & HE | 2413 INDUSTRIAL STREET BURLINGTON ON L7P 1A6 | 905-335-2945 FAX: 905-335-3077 | |
GRIFFIN MECHANICAL INC. O/A Secure Water Systems | 27 Monarch Road Unit 1B GUELPH ON N1K 1N4 | 905-580-1698 FAX: 519-822-9260 | |
GTA PLUMBING LTD | 6-3995 SLADEVIEW CRES MISSISSAUGA ON L5L 5Y1 | 905-569-7558 | |
HARB PLUMBING | 1032 CEDARWOOD PL BURLINGTON ON L7T 3J3 | 905-617-6362 | |
HILLS PLUMBING SERVICE | P.O. BOX 69007 1900 KING ST. E HAMILTON ON L8K 6R4 | 905-741-7241 | |
HI-TECH PLUMBING | 241 EDGELEY BLVD, CONCORD ON L4K 3Y6 | 905-761-0700 | |
HOFFER MECHANICAL | 460 GRAYS ROAD HAMILTON ON L8E 2Z4 | 905-561-6660 FAX: 905-578-2755 | |
IAN C ALLEN | 211 CARNWITH DR W WHITBY ON L1M 2G3 | 905-242-1016 FAX: 905-655-5667 | |
JORDAN KINDT BENCHMARK PLUMBING | 239 KIRKWOOD DR DUNDAS ON L9H 7A5 | 519-771-2848 | |
KEITHS'S PLUMBING & HEATING | 647 PARKDALE AVE N HAMILTON ON L8H 5Z1 | 905-544-8118 FAX: 905-544-6815 | |
KERR MECHANICAL INC | 422 DELAWARE AVE BURLINGTON ON L7R 3B5 | 905-973-5114 | |
L.J. BARTON MECHANICAL INC | 1341 OSPREY DRIVE UNIT 4 ANCASTER ON L9G 4V5 | 905-304-1976 FAX: 905-304-1607 | |
MATTINA MECHANICAL LIMITED | 211 LANARK ST UNIT A HAMILTON ON L8E 2Z9 | 905-544-6380 | |
MEADOWBROOK CONSTRUCTION INC | 5579 MCADAM RD MISSISSAUGA ON L4Z 1N4 | 416-819-3800 | |
MICHAEL GRAHAM | 473 DOURO ST STRATFORD ON N5A 6W3 | 519-271-1981 ext.8309 | |
MODERN NIAGARA | 8125 HIGHWAY 50VAUGHN ONL4H 4S6 | 416-748-3882 ext.5508 | |
MT DRAIN | 604 EDWARD AVE UNIT #5 RICHMOND HILL ON L4C 0V4 | 905-761-5551 | |
NAYLOR GROUP INCORPORATED | 455 NORTH SERVICE RD OAKVILLE ON L6H 1A5 | 905-338-8000 | |
NELCO MECHANICAL LTD | 1 CORBETT AVE ST CATHARINES ON L2N 5M3 | 519-465-7112 | |
NUTECH FIRE PREVENTION | 2814 BARTN ST E HAMILTON ON L8E 2J9 | 905-549-0111 | |
ONTARION FIRE PROTECTION | 65 IMPERIAL ST HAMILTON ON L8L 4E2 | 289-799-5220 | |
PITTON PLUMBING & HEATING INC | 566 RENNIE ST HAMILTON ON L8H 3P5 | 905-544-0006 | |
PLUMBERS EDGE | 1000 SIMCOE ST N OSHAWA ON L1G 8E6 | 905-529-5988 | |
PLUMBWAY INC. | 171 GLOVER RD HANNON ON L0R 1P0 | 905-574-3456 | |
PRACTICAL PLUMBING CO LTD | 3-1895 BLUE HERON DR LONDON ON N6H 5L9 | 519-471-8392 | |
PRECISION PLUMBING | 20 FESTIVAL WAY BINBROOK ON L0R 1C0 | 905-971-4321 | |
PROACTIVE WATER SOLUTIONS INC | 10-242 APPLEWOOD CRESCENT CONCORD ON L4K 4E5 | 416-249-2837 | |
RICK CAMPOVARI | 45 Lancing Dr. Unit 3 HAMILTON ON L8W 2Z9 | 289-683-6344 | |
ROBERT D. STEWART MECHANICAL | P.O. BOX 57309 110 KING STR W HAMILTON ON L8P 4X2 | 905-529-4805 | |
RUSSELL'S PLUMBING | 225 GIBSON AVE HAMILTON ON L8L 6K2 | 905-541-2877 | |
S&J PLUMBING SERVICES IN | 3400 14TH AVE UNIT 8 MARKHAM ON | 647-308-0742 | |
STEVENSON SPRINKLER & FIRE PROTECTION | 520 JORDAN RD #1 JORDAN STATION ON L0R 1S0 | 905-562-7575 | |
TOMEL MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS | 335 STONE CHURCH RD ANCASTER ON L9K 1S5 | 905-808-1364 | |
TOWNSEND PLUMBING & HEATING LT | 70 HEMPSTEAD DR UNIT B HAMILTON ON L8W 2E7 | 905-574-1100 | |
VIVE MECHANICAL | 200 HACHBORN RD BRANTFORD ON N3S 7W5 | 519-758-3500 | |
WESTERN PLUMBING & HEATING | 111 BRIARWOOD CRESCENT HAMILTON ON L9C 4C5 | 905-389-2902 FAX: 905-574-1808 |