Lead Pipe Replacement Program
- Living in a home built before 1958?
- How can I tell if I have a lead service pipe?
- Apply for a rebate for a partial (private-only) replacement
- Determine eligibility for full (private and public) replacement
- Request to have your home’s drinking water tested for lead
- Request NSF-53 certified water filter kits
- Keeping your tap water lead-free
- Request to have your home’s drinking water tested for lead
Flusher Hydrant Program video
This online tutorial will provide you with a background on the expectations for the flusher hydrant program.
Let's get started.
Drinking Water Branch staff continuously monitor the flusher hydrants.
Staff ensure compliance with the water By-law No. 2019-74 and the flusher hydrant program use guidelines and operational procedures.
Failure to comply may result in by-law infractions.
If proper procedures are not followed, damage to the flusher hydrants and the surrounding property may result.
Flusher hydrants must be fully opened when in use and fully closed upon completion to prevent damage.
If a hydrant is not completely opened or completely closed, escaping water from the ports at the base of the hydrant can cause damage.
The hydrant should always be left with all equipment removed and the hydrant lug caps replaced with the hydrant wrench.
If a hydrant is damaged during operation, please leave your gate valve on the hydrant and notify 311.
A maintenance crew will be dispatched as soon as possible to repair the hydrant. This may not be the same day.
The gate valve will be returned to you.
Please ensure you provide your company name and contact information when speaking with 311 so arrangements to collect your gate valve can be made.
To reduce the likelihood of experiencing a damaged hydrant, please follow the procedures demonstrated in this video.
The procedures provided here has been developed to improve the existing bulk water withdrawal program and to minimize risk of damage to fire hydrants and watermains.
Please note that the only hydrants that can be used are hydrants that have the designated flusher hydrant sign behind it.
Always stand behind a fire hydrant when operating it to prevent injury.
Using an approved hydrant wrench, remove the side cap and ensure the other two are tight.
Never use a claw type or pipe wrench.
Install the gate valve onto the lug ensuring that it is in the open position. Slowly begin to open the hydrant in a counterclockwise direction.
Once the water starts to flow, control the water by closing the gate valve.
The shut off gate valve must be used to control the flow from the hydrant, not the hydrant operating nut.
Slowly finish opening the hydrant in a counterclockwise direction while standing behind the hydrant.
When taking water from the flusher hydrants, backflow prevention is always required.
As a result, a Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly must also be installed.
The purpose of the Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly is to protect the quality of the city water supply.
Please note that double check valves are no longer acceptable according to CSA B64- 1 (highest possible risk).
A Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly is now considered the only acceptable device.
An air gap is also still valid. The air gap must be in a clearly visible location and the air gap must be a minimum of two diameters of the supply pipe size.
Attach the reduced pressure principle backflow device to the gate valve.
Attach your hose to the reduced pressure principle backflow assembly and the other end to the vehicle to being filled.
The length of hose should also be kept to a minimum.
Once everything is hooked up, open the gate valve to begin filling the vehicle.
In our demonstration, we don't have a vehicle, so we're simply using a diffuser on the end of the of the hose.
Once the vehicle is filled, close the gate valve by hand, slowly in a smooth and gradual manner.
Using the hydrant wrench, remove the hose from the back flow assembly and the vehicle.
Then remove the back flow assembly.
Close the hydrant slowly in a clockwise direction. The hydrant must be operated slowly to reduce water hammer.
Water hammer can cause broken water mains, requiring emergency repair. These repairs are costly and can be avoided by following the operating procedures demonstrated in this video.
Open the gate valve to reduce any residual pressure. Remove the gate valve.
Ensure that the hydrant is draining properly.
The hydrant is draining properly when there's no water still coming out and you will hear a small sucking sound when you place your hand over the hydrant.
Replace the hydrant lug cap using the hydrant wrench to the position that it was found. Tighten it and the process is complete.
This completes this video.
Thank you for following the outlined procedures and guidelines to help prevent personal injury and damage to the City’s water system.
High Volume User Program
Save money and water with the City’s High Volume User (HVU) Program. The HVU Program offers rebates to property owners for installing eligible water efficient toilets, urinals, spray valves and commercial dishwashers and washing machines.
What are the benefits?
Inefficient use of water increases utility costs and places undue stress on the environment. These negative outcomes can often be avoided by retrofitting inefficient fixtures with devices which use less water while providing equal or superior performance. The HVU program aims to offset the costs when retrofitting water fixtures by providing rebates. Find out how these Ottawa organizations benefitted from the High Volume User Program:
- Ottawa Community Housing Bank Street location cut $78,000 from its annual water bill
- Osgoode Properties sees return on investment eight months after installing water efficient toilets
- Ramphos Holdings Inc. saves money with water efficient toilets and washing machines
Are you eligible?
The business or facility must be built before 1996, located in the City of Ottawa and be either:
An industrial, commercial or institutional property consuming a minimum of 25,000 m3 of water per year
or
A multi-residential property with six or more units.
Ready to apply?
- Complete the Screening and Application form [ PDF - 196 KB].
- Before removing old fixtures and appliances, take photos of what is being replaced.
- Send completed form and photos for review to:
WaterWise Coordinator
City of Ottawa
951 Clyde Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1Z 5A6
Once your application has been approved, you will receive more information about next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Which toilet should I purchase?
Review the maximum performance (MaP) testing information to ensure the toilets you are considering meet the HVUP criteria. Toilet selection will be reviewed by the City as part of the screening form review and approval process.
What dollar rebate values are available?
Qualifying applications may receive:
- Toilets: $50 rebate for single-flush and dual flush high-efficiency toilets
- Urinals: $60 rebate for 3.8L or less; $75 rebate for waterless urinals
- Spray valves: 50% of the pre-tax price, to a maximum of $200
- Commercial dishwashers and washing machines: 25% of the pre-tax price, to a maximum of $1,000
The total maximum rebate is $10,000 per tax roll number.
Is there a deadline for completing the work?
After a project is approved, applicants must complete the work within 18 months.
Questions?
Contact the City of Ottawa at 3-1-1 or send an e-mail to: waterwise@ottawa.ca.
High Volume User success stories
Find out how local property owners have benefitted from the High Volume User Program.
Ottawa Community Housing
In 2011, the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCH) installed 144 water-efficient toilets at a facility located on Bank Street.
| Water conserved: | ~20,000 m3 of water/year |
| Rebate received: | $7,200 rebate |
| Return on investment: | 1 year |
| Annual savings: | ~$78,000 |
Osgoode Properties
In 2011, Osgoode Properties installed 122 water-efficient toilets in their building.
| Water conserved: | ~14,000 m3 of water/year |
| Rebate received: | $6,100 rebate |
| Return on investment: | 8 months |
| Annual savings: | ~$54,000 |
Ramphos Holdings Inc.
From 2011-2012, Ramphos Holdings Inc. installed 18 water-efficient toilets and 2 water-efficient washing machines.
| Water conserved: | ~400 m3 of water/year |
| Rebate received: | $1,643 rebate |
| Return on investment: | Five years |
| Annual savings: | ~$1,500 |
Water main maintenance - Cathodic Protection Program
The City of Ottawa’s Water Services completes preventative water main maintenance to ensure the continued efficient delivery of safe drinking water to your community.
What is cathodic protection?
Cathodic protection is a process that involves attaching a series of magnesium rods (or "anodes") to the outside of a metallic water main or water service to provide corrosion protection to the water main.
Why are we doing it?
With age, metal pipes corrode and eventually break. Cathodic protection helps prevent this process by transferring the corrosion from the outside of the water main to a “sacrificial” anode.
Why was my street selected?
The City analyzed the frequency and severity of water main breaks in Ottawa over a five year period. From this analysis, locations were identified and prioritized.
How is it done?
Work crews drill a series of 30 cm (1 foot) diameter holes on City property and insert magnesium (sacrificial) anodes beneath the ground. The anodes are connected together by a wire which is attached to your water service.
Will cathodic protection be added to all water mains?
No. Cathodic protection is for metallic pipes. Today, most water mains are made from PVC.
How will this work impact residents?
- There will be noise associated with the work.
- The installation process takes minutes and holes are refilled the same day.
- Traffic and pedestrian impacts are minimal.
- Work is done on the outside of the pipe, so water quality and pressure are not affected.
When will the work take place?
The Program is set to resume operations in 2023.
Questions or concerns
For more information, please contact the City’s Water Information Line by phone at 613-580-2424, extension 22300 or by email at info-water@ottawa.ca.
Backflow Prevention Program
- Program status - COVID-19
- About the Backflow Prevention Program
- What is backflow?
- Timelines for program compliance
- Roles and responsibilities
- Qualifications for surveyors, installers, and testers
- Step-by-step guide to program compliance
- Survey and testing forms
- Backflow Prevention Program application