Water Quality Report

The Township of Langley is home to approximately 123,000 residents. Of these, approximately 101,550 have water supplied by the Township. The remaining residents access water from either a private or a community well. 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 2017 despite exceeding the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) limits for arsenic (ALARA), nitrate (as nitrogen) and turbidity in the East Langley and/or the redundant Willoughby well. Also note, manganese exceeded the aesthetic objective (AO) parameters (non-health parameters related to taste, colour, and odour). Most importantly, in the East Langley Water System, all levels were reduced to acceptable GCDWQ levels prior to distribution via blending various Aldergrove well water sources prior to the Water Treatment Plant process. And, as a result of the arsenic levels Aldergrove Well #3 was offline as of the fall and will be decommissioned in 2018.

One Distribution water sample tested positive for E.coli in 2017. A level of 4 cfu/mL was reported and subsequently investigated. Immediately, Township crews flushed water mains and retested. This procedure followed the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and met the Fraser Health Authority’s requirements. It was later determined that this result was due to a sampling collection error; subsequent water samples did not indicate any E.coli. In result of this event, the Water Sampling Protocol was updated and staff were retrained on the new protocol.

Read other Utilities water quality reports (2017 , 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 WiseWater Emergency Plan
 

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