District of Muskoka Working to Continue Keeping Drinking Water Safe

Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (Muskoka, ON) – The District is committed to delivering safe, clean, and award-winning drinking water to all water users. Reducing the potential risks to the drinking water system by preventing backflows into the system-serviced properties is just one more way the District continues to deliver on this commitment.

The District’s municipal water system is intended to flow in one direction only. Any reversal in flow from a facility or building back into the drinking water system is highly undesirable. Backflow incidents could have potential impacts to drinking water, which may cause health and safety concerns.

Official notices will be sent in a phased approach to all commercial, industrial and institutional properties which are connected to the District’s water system. These notices will be issued starting in the first quarter of 2024 to the registered property owner. Property owners will have 90 days from the date of the letter, to have a cross connection control survey completed.

The survey will work to identify risks associated with the property, existing devices, or the need for devices to prevent the reversal of flow from properties to the drinking water system. Any deficiencies in backflow devices will be identified through the survey. All costs associated with the survey, correcting deficiencies, and annual testing will be incurred by the property owner.

The information obtained through the surveys will provide data to assess the level of risk posed by a user and will inform the level of protection required, based on the risk profile of the property. All backflow devices and uses will be tracked in accordance with the District’s Drinking Water Protection By-law.

Visit the District of Muskoka’s website for information on the program and steps on how to complete the cross connection control survey at www.muskoka.on.ca/backflowprevention 

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Dedicated to delivering clean, safe drinking water. It’s what we do.

The District of Muskoka is made up of six area municipalities and is responsible for delivering critical public services and programs to residents in our community. Visit our website at www.muskoka.on.ca 

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