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.)

S2803

2026 -- S 2803
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LC005757
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY

Introduced By:
Senators Thompson, and Famiglietti

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Environment & Agriculture
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 46-13-22 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-13 entitled "Public
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Drinking Water Supply" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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46-13-22. Cross-connection control.
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(a) The director is hereby authorized to adopt consistent statewide regulations governing
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the content of cross-connection control plans and to require that all community public water
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systems and all non-transient, non-community public water systems prepare a cross-connection
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control plan. The purpose of these plans shall be to protect the public water system distribution and
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transmission infrastructure from contamination through cross-connections. All community public
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water systems and all non-transient, non-community public water systems shall certify to the
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director that said plan complies with the regulations in accordance with the following schedule:
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(1) Community and non-transient, non-community public water systems serving more than
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five hundred (500) people shall submit certification of compliance no later than June 30, 2011, and
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implement said plan immediately thereafter.
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(2) Community and non-transient, non-community public water systems serving five
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hundred (500) people or fewer shall submit certification of compliance no later than June 30, 2012,
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and implement said plan immediately thereafter.
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(b) The regulations governing cross-connection control plans adopted by the director shall
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at a minimum include: the installation of cross-connection control valves at all newly constructed
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service connections prior to the provision of water service; the installation of cross connection

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control valves at all commercial and industrial service connections. The installation of cross-
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connection control devices shall not be made a mandatory condition of a transfer of a residential
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property that exists as of the effective date of this act [June 27, 2007].
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(c) Public water supply systems shall be authorized to terminate water service to any
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customer who fails to install the appropriate cross-connection control device upon due notice.
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(d) The cross-connection control devices required to be installed shall be models approved
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by the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of
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Southern California (FCCCHR, USC), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and/or
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the American Society of Sanitary Engineers (ASSE).
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(e) The director may also adopt and enforce standards including the establishment of fees
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for certification of persons engaged in cross-connection surveying or backflow prevention,
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assembly training, repair and maintenance testing
; provided, however, that no regulation or rule
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shall be promulgated or enforced which requires the inspection or certification of any backflow
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prevention device or system more frequently than once every ten (10) years except in response to
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an emergency or public health situation
.
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(f) Any regulations and/or standards promulgated, amended and/or administered pursuant
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to the provisions of this section shall conform to the requirements of chapter 35 of title 42 (“The
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Administrative Procedures Act.”)
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005757
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PUBLIC DRINKING WATER SUPPLY
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This act would require that a backflow test be performed every ten (10) years, rather than
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the current yearly inspection.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005757
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