Water Quality Report

The Township of Langley is home to approximately 117,258 residents. Of these, approximately 94,809 have water supplied by the Township, while the remaining use water from either private wells, or from community wells. There are 19 separate municipal water sources within the Township; 18 wells and the Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD). The BC Drinking Water Protection Regulation, Section 11 requires all water suppliers produce an annual report on water quality.

Source water quality met regulatory requirements in 2015, with the exception of aesthetic parameters (non-health parameters related to taste, colour, and odour), manganese, and hardness, and exceeded the maximum acceptable concentration limit for nitrate. Nitrate and Manganese levels were reduced to acceptable levels of less than 10 mg/L prior to public distribution during the treatment process at the Aldergrove Water Treatment Plant (AWTP). Manganese and hardness is reduced to acceptable levels prior to distribution, via blending with GVWD sources at other points throughout the system.

Distribution water for utilities, was above the limit for two samples collected out of the 1,609 samples tested. Two of the samples with positive results for total coliform were above the limit of 10 MPN/100 ml. These two sample locations were retested and flushed followed by an additional retest to confirm an acceptable limit had been achieved. There were no positive E.coli test results for any Township source or distribution water.

Read other Utilities water quality reports (2016 , 2015 , 2014 ) and Parks water quality reports (2016 , 2015 ).

Cross Connection Control Program

A cross connection is any physical connection between a possible source of contamination and any drinking water piping. Backflow is the flow of water in the reverse direction within a piping system. When a cross connection and backflow are combined, the result can be a contaminant entering the water supply piping.

The Township’s Cross Connection Control Program is pro-active and safeguards our drinking water from actual or potential cross connections by tracking backflow preventers, building a strong backflow industry network, incorporating backflow prevention at the design stage of new construction, and promoting safe drinking water practices.

Backflow Prevention 
Backflow Device Test Report 

Township contacts

Test reports for new installations or as part of final inspection of the building:

Building Department
604-533-6018
permitsec@tol.ca 

Annual retesting, repairs, test reports, and inquiries:

Engineering Division
604-532-7300
backflow@tol.ca

Technical or program inquiries:

Engineering Division
604-533-6103
backflow@tol.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

Ensuring safe drinking water is important to health and safety. Annually, a Certified Backflow Preventer Tester performs a test which ensures the check valves close and do not allow any contaminated water to seep through them should water flow backwards. Just like any seal, the check valve seal can wear over time and allow contaminated water to flow into the drinking water system.. 

A BC Water and Waste Association Certified Backflow Preventer Tester with a valid Township Business License. The Township rejects test reports from Testers with either a lapsed tester’s certification or Business License. A test tag attached to your backflow preventer may have Tester contact information.

DCVA’s are installed to protect against low or moderate hazards where a contaminant or pollutant will be more of a nuisance or aesthetically objectionable.

RPBA’s are installed to protect against a high risk or probability of a pollutant backflowing into your drinking water at home or at work. At the bottom of the RPBA is a relief valve port which provides a visual sign of a backflow problem by discharging potentially toxic water to the floor drain rather than into the drinking water system. Constant water discharge is a sign to call your plumber.

For new backflow preventer installations and as part of final inspection of a building, email Test Report forms to the Building Department at permitsec@tol.ca Forms may also be mailed to the Civic Facility.

For annual retesting Test Reports, email forms to backflow@tol.ca with the facility address in the subject line. Forms may also be mailed to the Operations Centre.

The Township tracks all test reports, passed and failed. By submitting failed Backflow Preventer Test Reports, the Township’s database is current in case of a backflow incident. Furthermore, the Facility Owner will not receive Overdue Notices but rather Repair Notices.

Plumbing permits are required for the installation of all new testable backflow preventers and can be obtained from the Civic Facility, Building Department. Permits are required when installing or altering any equipment and are required prior to starting any work. Plumbing permits are not required for regular testing and maintenance of backflow preventers.

Call 604-532-7300 or email backflow@tol.ca.

Call 604-532-7300 or email backflow@tol.ca for technical inquiries such as new installations, CSA B64 - selection and installation of backflow preventers, or Water Works Bylaw 2008 No 4697 interpretations.

 

Additional resources

  Water Management

Connecting to the Municipal Water SupplyCreeks and StreamsFlood ResponsePrivate Well NetworkWater Quality ReportWater RestrictionsWater Wise
 

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