Our expertise

Since 1988, Mr. Boudrias, President of Darspec, has been developing his know-how in water management. Initially specialized in irrigation systems, he redirected his expertise towards backflow prevention devices to create Darspec in 2006. His company now relies on a team of experts to offer you the best drinking water management services.

Background | Mission and Vision | Values | Team | FAQ

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Background

Initially, in 2003, Sylvain Boudrias developed applications for the distribution of fertilizers using irrigation systems. These uses quickly brought him to work with Canadian specialists in the field of backflow prevention devices (DAr) to avoid any contamination to the drinking water. Mr. Boudrias then undertook research and noted a lack of training and knowledge in Quebec since the subject was new and unknown. He then developed an in-depth expertise, both in the selection of backflow prevention devices and in the way to install them.

In 2006, Mr. Boudrias created a new administrative structure to offer engineering services for cross-connections on drinking water supply systems and certification of backflow preventer devices. It offers its services to owners and managers of institutional (hospitals, educational establishments, municipalities, etc.), commercial and industrial buildings.

Since September 2015, all company resources have been dedicated to Darspec and its noble cause; to preserve the drinking water.

Other areas of expertise related to cross-connections have since been developed to address not only to requests relating to protection, but also to the management of drinking water in a building. Thus, Darspec now specializes in the management, protection, and optimization of the use of drinking water in buildings. The specialized building water engineering services are but not limited to:

  • Cross connections on the drinking water network
  • Network of emergency showers
  • Bring drinking water inlet up to standards
  • Booster station
  • Water consumption measurement solution
  • Water recirculation loop
  • Mixed water network

Darspec is state-of-the-art and uses the latest version of Autodesk's Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) collection which includes REVIT (3D). Plans are designed to facilitate understanding of the most complex projects while meeting emerging BIM requirements. Darspec can manage all phases of a project from requirement analysis, through the design of plans and specifications to site supervision.

Today, using new technologies, Darspec can digitize a mechanical room in a building using specialized cameras. From these scans, Darspec can extract all the information required to model a building or a mechanical room towards a comprehensive project of adding or dismantling components.

Mission and Vision

Mission

Design integrated, innovative and creative engineering solutions in responsible management of drinking water in public, industrial, commercial, and institutional buildings exceeding the codes and laws in force.

Vision

To be the leader in the sustainable management of drinking water, while taking into account the future challenges of preserving the resource.

Values

Respect & Integrity

Respect and integrity, core values of Darspec, inspire each of our actions: respect for customers, who are at the center of the Darspec business; respect for team members, their strengths, their differences, and their aspirations; respect for suppliers and partners with whom we are called upon to collaborate; as well as respect for natural resources, mainly water conservation, which is at the very heart of Darspec's mission. Our staff acts in a professional and honest manner while respecting our commitments.

Rigor

Rigor is the leitmotif that guarantees the quality of the work accomplished, and our commitment to exceeding industry standards goes beyond simple compliance with the codes and laws in force. Rigor is also a guarantee of precision in the performance of the services rendered, without compromising on health and safety. Rigor is respected in all stages of the realization of a project, to ensure a simple and efficient execution of the mandates entrusted to us.

Teamwork

Teamwork where cooperation and collaboration from Darspec human resources with our customers, suppliers, and business partners. Our team understands the impact of our decisions and actions on the work of others and in achieving common goals. Darspec encourages a positive and motivating work atmosphere in our daily interactions.

Creativity

Creativity is the engine of our actions which allows us to innovate and to offer optimal solutions, without being complex, which take into consideration both the users’ needs and the constraints due to the building complexity. Creativity encourages employees to think about the impact of these solutions once they are implemented at the customer premises. Creativity challenges our daily actions and allows the improvement of our ways of working.

Proactivity

Proactivity allows us to anticipate clients’ needs and prevent incidents and contaminations in buildings for our customers, suppliers, and business partners. Darspec wants to facilitate the work of our business partners through proper planning and clear line of communication.

Technical and Complementary Competence Development

Darspec is constantly seeking to improve our services by improving our practices and methodologies. We convert our knowledge into the execution of the mandates that we have with our clients and partners while taking continuous initiatives to maintain our technical and complementary knowledge.

Team

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SYLVAIN BOUDRIAS, P.ENG., MBA President, Darspec

Sylvain Boudrias, P. Eng., MBA, leads the engineering team at Darspec, of which he is the founding president. His thirst for knowledge, his passion for teamwork and his competitiveness, also expressed on the ice as a hockey player, allowed him to establish ethical principles that continue to fuel and grow the company.

Holder of a bachelor's degree in Engineering from Concordia University and a MBA with John Molson School of Business (JMSB), Sylvain is a recognized expert in drinking water protection and cross-connection engineering. He is regularly called upon to advise Canadian businesses and municipalities on the subject. A certified AWWA trainer, he has trained hundreds of backflow preventer device testers in Quebec.

Sylvain works on many committees, including the AWWA Cross Connection Control Committee. From 2009 to 2015, he acted as a certification officer and technical consultant for the Quebec Section of AWWA. He served on the Canadian Coordinating Committee for the Control of Cross-Connections, for which he still acts as a consultant, which is undoubtedly a testament to his commitment to the industry. Aware of current and future issues relating to drinking water, he constantly seeks to offer building owners solutions to protect this resource.

In June 2015, Sylvain’s leadership and expertise were recognized by the industry, which awarded him with the AWWA’s prestigious George Warren Fuller Prize.

Sylvain is a member of the following industry organizations:

  • The Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ)
  • The Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
  • American Water Works Association (AWWA)
  • The AWWA Quebec Section
  • Association des gestionnaires de parcs immobiliers institutionnels (AGPI)
  • The American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE)
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TANIA SOUCY-LAGRANGE Technical advisor

Tania brought more than 15 years of customer service and administrative experience when she joined Darspec in 2013 first as an Administrative Assistant and then in her current role as Technical Advisor. Her diverse background has honed her administrative skills and made her a polished people person, treasured for her warmth and resourcefulness.

As Technical Advisor, Tania uses her vast knowledge of backflow prevention devices and differential pressure gauges to help Darspec customers resolving many complex technical questions. Highly reliable, endowed with an invaluable team spirit, Tania is a woman of action who enjoys taking on the challenges that the company faces daily basis.

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RICHARD BASTIEN Technician and backflow preventer device verifier

Mr. Bastien has been a Technician at Darspec since 2010. He excels in the calibration, maintenance and repair of differential pressure gauges and is qualified to repair a wide variety of backflow prevention devices.

As an avid fisherman, Richard has a deep commitment to preserving the clean water for future generations. That commitment has been bolstered by a career that has included construction and excavation, pressurized water systems and in industries as diverse as medical facilities and the Canadian paper industry.

Richard is an AWWA certified backflow preventer device verifier, for which he completed 40 hours of training. To date, Mr. Bastien has performed thousands of backflow prevention device certifications for a multitude of major customers.

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Eduardo ContrerasBEng junior

Holder of a bachelor's degree in engineering from ÉTS, Eduardo Contreras joined Darspec team in February 2024 as a junior engineer.

Graduated with a DEC in physical engineering technology from Cégep André Laurendeau, Eduardo began his career as a research and development technician where he had the opportunity to familiarize himself with several manufacturing and data acquisition technologies.

This professional experience played an essential role in enriching his skills and motivated him to pursue his studies in engineering. In addition, during his university training, Eduardo completed three engineering internships where he was able to apply the theoretical concepts into practice and they also intoduced him to basic project management.

Eduardo puts great importance to rigor and professional ethics. He is keen to deliver optimal work in order to respond to the different challenges and needs faced by our clients and the company.

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Kim-Van Duong, B.ENG, PMP Senior Project Manager

 

Kim-Van Duong, B.Eng., PMP has joined the team as a consultant before becoming a Darspec permanent member in 2022.

Holder of a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Concordia University, Kim-Van began her career in technical positions and then complemented her expertise with a certificate in Project Management (Project Management Professional, PMP).

Kim-Van also worked in Product and Project for many years in large international enterprises. With her diverse experiences and knowledge, Kim-Van wants to bring her know-how to a small business to help its expansion.

Above all, Kim-Van is an excellent team leader, reliable and a firm believer that anything can be achieved when the team works together.

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Chantal Bergevin Administrative Assistant

 

Chantal Bergevin has 19 years of experience in customer service in various fields and perfected herself with secretarial training in 2021. Chantal joined Darspec in early 2023.

She is a joyful, cheerful person with a great ability to adapt in our constantly evolving company.

As an administrative assistant, Chantal will draw on her service and support experiences to daily assist team members and will gradually bring her contribution to the expansion of Darspec.

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Interns on duty

Mia AI Gris

 

Yoanna Yosifova Dimitrova Technical Coordinator

Yoanna Dimitrova is currently studying at École de technologie supérieure in the civil engineering program. She is completing her first internship in the winter of 2024 at Darspec.

Yoanna is a curious and social person who has a passion for learning and developing new skills. Taking on new projects and meeting new people are some of the things she enjoys doing. Challenges and difficulties never scared Yoanna as they help her develop her abilities as a future engineer.

As a first-year university student, Yoanna has a lot left to learn about the engineering world but equipped with her strong will and dedication she will someday become an engineer who helps build a better future.

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Nicolas Poirier Technical Coordinator

Nicolas Poirier is in his third year of the Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at the École de technologie supérieure. He is currently completing his third internship at Darspec during the winter session of 2024.

Passionate about sports since a young age, he never turns down new challenges, always emphasizing his work ethic.

Building mechanics is his preferred field, where he wishes to continue deepening his knowledge.

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Darspec faqs

 

Definitions (from CSA B64.10):

Backflow preventer device or Backflow prevention device: a device that prevents backflow.

Potable or drinking water: water safe for human consumption.

Owner: any person, firm, or corporation having control over property to which this Bylaw applies.

Cross-connection: any actual or potential connection between a potable water system and any source of pollution or contamination.

Bypass arrangements, the jumpers, the removable sections, the swivel assemblies or any other device or connection, installed permanently or temporarily and in which the discharge is possible are considered as cross connections.

Note: In such connections, backflow is possible. For example, we can think of a hydronic heating system or an external watering valve supplying an irrigation system.

Backflow: the reversal of the normal direction of the flow of water.

Backflow prevention device verifier: a person who is certified to perform backflow preventer device field testing by an accredited organization recognized by the regulatory authority.

Questions – Answers

Cross-connection engineering is a discipline that prevents contamination of potable or drinking water by preventing toxic or unhealthy substances from entering the drinking water supply system.

a) Siphoning: the reversal of the normal flow of water caused by a negative pressure in the water supply system and

b) Back pressure: the reversal of the normal flow of water caused by a pressure greater than the supply pressure.

Siphoning can be caused by an anomaly in the public water supply system such as an interruption of service, broken pipes, the use of numerous fire hydrants, or any other external devices.

A back pressure can occur when the pressure downstream is greater than the pressure upstream. For example, when a circulation system or a pump is used in a heating or sprinkler system, there is a simultaneous drop in pressure in the public water supply. As a result, the high pressure generated by the pump can reverse the normal flow of water.

POTABLE OR DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATION CASES

PARTICLES FOUND IN DRINKING WATER AT SAINTE-JUSTINE HOSPITAL

In January 2016, the Sainte-Justine hospital was required to issue a drinking water non-consumption advisory following the presence of black particles. Fortunately, these particles were found to be non-toxic to health.

WALKERTON, ONTARIO TRAGEDY: E. coli BACTERIA CONTAMINATION

On May 11, 2000, water distributed through the Walkerton, Ontario water supply system was contaminated with E. coli O157: H7, resulting in the deaths of seven people and the illness of up to 2500 others. Heavy rains caused contaminated manure to run off into a pumping well located near farmland.

LONGUEUIL, QUEBEC: DIESEL FUEL IN DRINKING WATER

On January 14, 2015, nearly 28,000 liters of diesel fuel seeped into the soil and the St. Lawrence River, following equipment failure on a hydrocarbon supply line. The leak, which went unnoticed at the time, resulted in the contamination of drinking water and deprived hundreds of thousands of citizens of tap water for two days. Allegations of negligence against the City led to a class action lawsuit on behalf of the affected residents.

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BACKFLOW PREVENTION?

Contact Darspec for answers to your specific questions about the selection, installation and field testing of backflow prevention devices.

www.darspec.com

Visit Backflo Shop for the purchase and calibration of  differential pressure gauges as well as technical training.

www.backflow-shop.com Backflo Shop – Frequently Asked Questions

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