Water quality and pressure

Providing high-quality, affordable water is one of the City's priorities.

The City of Vancouver's mission is to provide you with a sustainable supply of high-quality water.

Drinking water is tested for quality at the source waters by Metro Vancouver before the water is sold to the municipalities.  This water is then tested for quality by the City of Vancouver numerous times as it travels through the city's water distribution system to your tap. The results consistently show that Vancouver's drinking water quality is excellent.

Water pressure

Water pressure is largely provided by gravity from higher elevation resevoirs. Vancouver is divided into a number of areas by elevation in order to maintain reasonable water pressures.

The City also operates 30 pressure reducing valves, and one combined pressure reducing valve-flow regulation valve station to further control water pressure.

Help protect our drinking water quality

In larger complexes, Vancouver requires backflow prevention assemblies to be installed to protect drinking water from contamination by the backflow from water used for other purposes:

  • Fire sprinkler systems
  • Underground lawn irrigation systems
  • Commercial boiler systems
  • Residential and commercial boiler systems with anti-freeze

Backflow prevention assemblies have internal seals, springs and moving parts that can wear out. Backflow prevention assemblies must be tested after installation, and tested annually by a certified tester, in accordance with the Vancouver Water Works Bylaw 4848.

Submitting backflow assembly test reports

 Effective July 1, 2019, we'll no longer accept paper copies of backflow assembly test reports for existing or replacement backflow tests.

We've contracted Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI) to manage an online database management system for tracking backflow test results and information. Effective January 1, 2022, there is a $20 fee to file a City of Vancouver test report with BSI.

How the City keeps your water clean, and accessible

Drinking water monitoring and results

Learn about Vancouver's water monitoring program, and access water testing reports and results by neighbourhood.

Water treatment

Learn about water treatment efforts made by Metro Vancouver at the Seymour-Capilano water filtration plant keeping Vancouver's water supply safe.

Water main flushing program

Find out about how flushing the water main system improves water quality in Vancouver.

Problems with water quality or pressure

Is your water cloudy or brown? Did the water pressure suddenly change? Find out who to call to resolve problems with your water quality and water pressure.

Did you know

What comes out of your faucet is fresh, potable water.Only 3% of the world's water is fresh, and less than 0.33% is available for human use.

Whether you turn on a faucet or set out your sprinkler, the water that spills out is fresh, potable water.

Read more about Vancouver's efforts to conserve and protect this natural resource.

Conserve and protect

Water quality and pressure

Find out who can help you to fix water quality and water pressure problems.

Use our guide