AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY (Requires that a backflow test be performed every ten (10) years, rather than the current yearly inspection.)

H7918

2026 -- H 7918
========
LC005756
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY

Introduced By:
Representatives Casey, Phillips, and J. Brien

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Environment and Natural Resources
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 46-13-22 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-13 entitled "Public
2
Drinking Water Supply" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3

46-13-22. Cross-connection control.
4
(a) The director is hereby authorized to adopt consistent statewide regulations governing
5
the content of cross-connection control plans and to require that all community public water
6
systems and all non-transient, non-community public water systems prepare a cross-connection
7
control plan. The purpose of these plans shall be to protect the public water system distribution and
8
transmission infrastructure from contamination through cross-connections. All community public
9
water systems and all non-transient, non-community public water systems shall certify to the
10
director that said plan complies with the regulations in accordance with the following schedule:
11
(1) Community and non-transient, non-community public water systems serving more than
12
five hundred (500) people shall submit certification of compliance no later than June 30, 2011, and
13
implement said plan immediately thereafter.
14
(2) Community and non-transient, non-community public water systems serving five
15
hundred (500) people or fewer shall submit certification of compliance no later than June 30, 2012,
16
and implement said plan immediately thereafter.
17
(b) The regulations governing cross-connection control plans adopted by the director shall
18
at a minimum include: the installation of cross-connection control valves at all newly constructed
19
service connections prior to the provision of water service; the installation of cross connection

1
control valves at all commercial and industrial service connections. The installation of cross-
2
connection control devices shall not be made a mandatory condition of a transfer of a residential
3
property that exists as of the effective date of this act [June 27, 2007].
4
(c) Public water supply systems shall be authorized to terminate water service to any
5
customer who fails to install the appropriate cross-connection control device upon due notice.
6
(d) The cross-connection control devices required to be installed shall be models approved
7
by the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of
8
Southern California (FCCCHR, USC), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and/or
9
the American Society of Sanitary Engineers (ASSE).
10
(e) The director may also adopt and enforce standards including the establishment of fees
11
for certification of persons engaged in cross-connection surveying or backflow prevention,
12
assembly training, repair and maintenance testing
; provided, however, that no regulation or rule
13
shall be promulgated or enforced which requires the inspection or certification of any backflow
14
prevention device or system more frequently than once every ten (10) years except in response to
15
an emergency or public health situation
.
16
(f) Any regulations and/or standards promulgated, amended and/or administered pursuant
17
to the provisions of this section shall conform to the requirements of chapter 35 of title 42 (“The
18
Administrative Procedures Act.”)
19
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC005756
========

LC005756 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY
***
1
This act would require that a backflow test be performed every ten (10) years, rather than
2
the current yearly inspection.
3
This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC005756
========

LC005756 - Page 3 of 3