At UBC, backflow prevention is managed by UBC Energy and Water Services while in the UEL area, it’s managed through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing under the name, University Endowment Lands. Each of these authorities has different requirements and procedures and we are experienced in dealing with both. Call or text us to schedule your testing or to request a quote.

Although all backflow assemblies should be tested annually to ensure they’re operating properly, UBC currently only requires test reports for “primary” backflow preventers --- water main assemblies; irrigation assemblies; and fire system assemblies. UBC is transitioning to an online record keeping system managed by a third party (Maintenance Training Systems Inc. (“MTS”)). Test reports are submitted to MTS through its online web portal. To submit a report, a tester must first be registered with MTS. There is a filing fee of $20 (plus tax) for filing a report for primary device. There is currently no fee for filing a report for a secondary device.

For more information about UBC’s water supply go to https://energy.ubc.ca/ubcs-utility-infrastructure/water/

We are registered with MTS and ready to submit test reports for backflow devices at UBC. Call or text us to schedule an appointment.

The University Endowment Lands is an unincorporated community located between the City of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia. Testable backflow assemblies are required to be tested annually by a certified tester, and test reports must be submitted to the University Endowment Lands office by mail, fax or email. There is currently no fee for filing test reports.

If you want more information about UEL’s water supply go to: http://www.universityendowmentlands.gov.bc.ca/residentialservices/drinkingwater.htm

In some cases it’s hard to know whether a property is located in UBC or UEL. Properties on the following streets are located in the UEL:

Acadia Road
Adelaide Road
Agronomy Road (5725 only)
     Allison Road
Campus Road
Chancellor Blvd. (4700 to 5749)
Chancellor Blvd. (5907 to 6087, odd #)
    College Highroad
    Dalhousie Road
Kings Road
    Kingston Road
Knox Road
    McMaster Road
    Marine Drive, NW (5500 to 6000 only)
    Newton Crescent
Newton Wynd
    Queensland Road
    Tasmania Crescent
Toronto Road
University Boulevard (5185 to 5885 only)
    Wesbrook Crescent
    Western Crescent
Wesbrook Mall (Even # only, to 2280)
Western Parkway (1630 to 2388)
Wycliffe Road
    West 6th Avenue (4700 Block only)
West 7th Avenue (4700 Block only)

And properties on the following streets are under the jurisdiction of UBC:

Acadia Park Lane
Agricultural Road
Agronomy Road (Except 5725)
Applied Science Lane
Berton Avenue
Binninq Road
Bio Science Road
Birney Road
Cecil Green Park Road
Chancellor Boulevard (5902 to 6098, even # only)
Chancellor Mews
Crescent Road
Eagles Drive East Mall
Education Road
Engineering Lane
Fairview Avenue
Fairview Place
Gray Avenue
Hampton Place
Hawthorn Lane
Health Science Mall
Hospital Lane
Imperial Road
Iona Drive
Keremeos Court
Larkin Drive
Logan Lane
Lower Mall
Main Mall
Main Mall Greenway

Marine Drive, NW (6100 +)
Marine Drive, SW
Melfa Court
Memorial Road
Military Road
Nurseries Road
Osoyoos Crescent
Oyama Court
Pearkes Lane
President’s Row
Revelstoke Court
Ross Drive
Salmo Court
Shrum Lane
South Campus Road
Stadium Road
Stores Road
Student Union Boulevard
Tennis Crescent
Thames Court
Theology Mall
Thunderbird Boulevard
Thunderbird Crescent
University Boulevard (5586 +)
Walter Gage Road
Webber Lane
Wesbrook Mall (All odd #; & even # over 2280)
West Mall
Yalta Place

Vancouver Backflow Testing Ltd:

• is insured; enrolled with WorkSafe BC; and licensed to carry on business as a plumbing contractor within the Metro Vancouver area

• our technicians are all experienced journeyman plumbers, as well as being BCWWA certified backflow testers

• our process is completely stream-lined, from the scheduling of a test all the way to invoicing and payment. Just contact us and we’ll take it from there. In many cases it will not even be necessary for you to be present when the testing is done.

• we focus on service and efficiency. Where test reports are filed online, we usually have a test report filed within an hour of the test being conducted. Where paper test reports are required, we usually send them out (by email or mail, depending on the municipality) within a day of the test being conducted.

• you don’t pay until we’ve completed the work.

• we follow up with you each year when it’s time for your backflow device(s) to be tested to ensure you keep up to date with your testing obligations

• if a device fails on initial testing, we are usually able to remedy the problem during the initial visit, thereby saving you the cost of an additional site visit. Our technicians are qualified to repair backflow assemblies, and always travel with the tools and parts required to carry out most repairs.

Water normally flows in one direction, from the public drinking water system through the plumbing of a home or building and out a sink tap or other plumbing fixture or appliance. Under certain circumstances, water starts to flow in the opposite direction; this is known as “backflow”.

The flow of water into, instead of out of, our drinking water system, creates the risk of contaminated substances being drawn into, and then disbursed from, the drinking water system.

Backflow happens when there is either back siphonage or back pressure in a water line.

Back siphonage is where water flows in the opposite direction because of negative pressure in the water line. This can happen when there is a drop or stoppage of pressure in the main water line due to, for example, a break in the line or the use of a fire hydrant.

Back pressure can be created when a source of pressure, such as a water pump, creates a greater pressure than the pressure from the water distribution system.

Backflow can arise where there is a “cross connection” to our public drinking water system; a cross connection is any actual or potential connection between our drinking water system and any source of pollution or contamination. Cross connections include connections to buildings; connections for sprinkler systems; and connections for various plumbing fixtures such as boilers, water filters, ice machines, dental equipment, pools, and soap dispensers.

Some backflow prevention devices have moving parts that can wear out over time or become clogged with grit or debris. These backflow preventers must be tested regularly to make sure they are operating properly.