Infographic of where a cooling tower, building water treatment, municipal water supply, rainwater harvesting, and decorative fountain are featured near a building

Get a water systems operating permit

After a prolonged shutdown, your building's plumbing system (cold and hot water) and mechanical systems may not be safe. Guidance is available from WorkSafe BC , The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Province of Ontario , Province of Quebec , Europe , Public Services and Procurement Canada (188 KB), and other agencies .

To more effectively respond to incidents, mitigate health risks by pathogens (such as Legionella pneumophila), and ensure compliance with updated standards, operating permits help us and health authorities track new and existing:

Cooling towers
Water features
Non-potable water systems and other building water systems

Get background details

Get by-law details

Looking for an electrical annual permit? Review the steps and get an electrical annual permit

Ready to get your permit?

Review what systems require an operating permit
Review our guide on how to use the online permit system for operating permits (1.4 MB)
Register for an online account (If you don't have an account.)
Submit your application
Report water quality results as required. For Legionella pneumophila and E. coli, review laboratory requirements and sampling guidelines.

Types of operating permits

For additional information, contact: operatingpermit@vancouver.ca

As of January 1, 2022, all operating permits must be associated with someone holding the EOCP “Building Water System Operator” certification. Get additional information from the Environmental Operators Certification Program

Rainwater harvesting and other alternative water systems
All new and existing systems must meet the following water quality standards:
- Temperature < 20 °C
- Turbidity < 10 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units)
- E. coli < 100 CFU (colony forming units) per 100 mL or < 100 MPN (most probable number) per 100 mL
- Legionella pneumophila < 10 CFU per mL (as of January 1, 2022)
What is required

All new and existing systems require:
- An operating permit
- Quarterly water quality testing and reporting (bi-monthly as of January 1, 2021)
- Cross connection control tests
New system requirements

Systems installed after January 1, 2019, must:
- Have an operating permit to get an occupancy permit
- Connect to toilets, urinals, and trap primers
- Use specified purple piping and sizing methodology
- Include inline monitoring, sub-meters, and a sampling port
Exemptions

There are exemptions, such as systems for single-family homes and duplexes.

Reference document

Review Vancouver Plumbing By-law, Division B, Section 2.7
Building water treatment systems
Cooling towers
All new and existing cooling towers and evaporative condensers require an operating permit.

As of January 1, 2021, all new and existing cooling towers and evaporative condensers require:
- A maintenance log
- A Legionella test at system start-up (monthly testing required as of January 1, 2022)
- Action when a Legionella result is 10 or more CFU (colony forming units) per mL
Reference documents
Once through cooling and other single pass systems

All existing once through cooling equipment, non-recirculating liquid ring pumps, and other single pass systems must be disconnected from the City’s water system.

Not sure if your system uses once through cooling? Learn how you can find out in our guide (2 MB).

Exemptions

There are exemptions which require a permit, such as for emergency once through cooling equipment installed before May 2, 2017.

Reference document

Review Vancouver Plumbing By-law, Division B, Article 2.2.11.4

No new single pass systems, including once through cooling equipment, may be installed. Refer to the once through cooling and single pass systems bulletin (843 KB).
Decorative water features
All new and existing indoor and outdoor decorative water features require an operating permit.
- As of January 1, 2021, all new and existing decorative water features require a maintenance log.
- As of January 1, 2022, all new and existing decorative water features also require:
  - Bi-monthly Legionella testing and reporting
  - Action when a Legionella result is 10 or more CFU (colony forming units) per mL
Exemptions

There are exemptions, such as systems for single-family homes and duplexes. Fish ponds and natural bodies of water are also exempt.

Systems that have an operating permit under the BC Pool Regulation do not require a City operating permit.

Reference document

Review Vancouver Plumbing By-law, Division B, Article 2.2.11.7
Water quality testing
Certain operating permits require periodic water quality testing and reporting.

E. coli tests must be conducted by an accredited laboratory
- Review E. coli sampling guidelines (115 KB)
Legionella pneumophila tests must be conducted by a laboratory:
- Using the culture method (ISO 11731)
- Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025
- Enrolled in a bi-annual external proficiency testing program
- That gives notice to the medical health officer and City for exceedances, as defined by the by-law

Did you find what you're looking for?

Get a water systems operating permit

Get background details

Get by-law details

Ready to get your permit?

Types of operating permits

Rainwater harvesting and other alternative water systems

Building water treatment systems

Cooling towers

Once through cooling and other single pass systems

Decorative water features

Water quality testing

Did you find what you're looking for?