New backflow bylaw aims to keep Sudbury's drinking water clean

More than 15 years after an E. coli outbreak in Walkerton's drinking water killed seven people, the City of Greater Sudbury is moving forward with plans to strengthen the protection of its own municipal system.

• 'Excited over the simple things': First Nation enjoys turning on the taps after 10 years without clean water

Under the proposed bylaw, property plumbing systems will be examined to ensure wastewater doesn't end up in drinking water.

Owners will have to install prevention devices, perform annual testing and maintenance.

Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann thinks the bylaw is a "great program moving forward."

"It's a protection not only for the industries, but also for residents as well," Landry-Altmann said. "If you don't have good drinking water, you have nothing. So I applaud this 100 per cent."

• Bottled water companies in Ontario to pay more in 2017

Residential properties are expected to be exempt from the new bylaw, unless they have an irrigation system or well.

The whole process could take a decade, nearly half of which to determine which properties present a risk.

Coun. Robert Kirwan says the expected length is too long.

"To me, spending three to four years going out to find out who's compliant or not is going to have a severe financial implication," Kirwan said. "We may not have to put out extra dollars, but we're going to have to put out extra man power to go out to these places and examine." 

City staff said they plan to move forward with backflow inspections as soon as possible.