Backflow Laws: Maine
Maine Backflow Prevention Laws, Regulations, and Compliance Requirements
Maine's backflow prevention requirements are administered by the Maine Division of Environmental and Community Health (within Maine DHHS), which requires testers to be certified by a third-party organization. Maine is a high-regulation state requiring a written cross-connection control plan and maintenance of inventory and testing records available during sanitary surveys. Portland Water District has notably expanded its program requirements since 2019 and again in 2021. This guide covers Maine's regulatory framework and programs for Portland Water District, Maine Water, and other major utilities.
Maine State Regulatory Framework
Maine’s drinking water and cross-connection control program is administered by the Maine Division of Environmental and Community Health, within the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (MeCDC). Maine holds EPA primacy under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
Maine is classified nationally as a high-regulation state requiring: a written cross-connection control plan; maintenance of a complete inventory of backflow prevention assemblies; testing records maintained and available during state sanitary surveys; and an active cross-connection control program for all public water systems.
Maine Tester Certification — Third-Party Required
Maine regulates backflow testers through the Division of Environmental and Community Health and requires testers to be certified by a recognized third-party organization. Testers must complete a state-approved 32-hour training course and then register with the Division of Environmental and Community Health. Accepted third-party certifications include ABPA (American Backflow Prevention Association), ASSE, NEWWA (New England Water Works Association), and other recognized organizations. Recertification is required every three years.
Training in Maine is available through NEWWA-approved courses and regional providers. Kruger Training Academy’s New England Region Backflow Tester Program has been submitted for Maine approval and is used by many New England testers.
Maine's Written CCC Plan Requirement Is Mandatory
Unlike many states where a written cross-connection control plan is optional or advisory, Maine requires all public water systems to have and maintain a written cross-connection control plan. This plan must be available during state sanitary surveys conducted by the Division of Environmental and Community Health. Water utilities — and, indirectly, the compliance records property owners maintain — feed this plan’s documentation requirements. Ensuring your test reports are filed with your utility on time keeps your utility’s plan accurate and maintains the documentation chain the state will review.
Major Water Purveyors in Maine
Portland Water District
Portland Water District is Maine’s largest water utility, serving approximately 200,000 people across Portland, Westbrook, South Portland, Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Yarmouth, Cumberland, and Standish. Portland Water District has maintained an active cross-connection control program for decades and has significantly expanded its requirements in recent years.
Effective January 1, 2019, the Portland Water District’s updated Cross Connection Control Program extended backflow device installation requirements. Effective July 1, 2021, the program was further expanded: all year-round water services that receive a meter installation are subject to the program — including existing facilities, abandoned facilities, and facilities with closed accounts. The 2021 update added requirements for multiple buildings on a single lot supplied by one service line (one backflow preventer required on that service line), and for situations where a meter is in a meter pit (preventer installed immediately after the meter).
Portland Water District prefers that residential customers test irrigation assemblies in the spring before the summer irrigation season. Annual testing is required. Commercial property owners receive an annual schedule for all their assemblies. Portland Water District keeps records of installed assemblies and mails annual reminder letters with sticker labels for testers to use. Testers must hold third-party certification accepted by the Division of Environmental and Community Health.
Maine Water Company
Maine Water Company serves communities across the state including Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Rockland, Camden, Thomaston, and others. Maine Water’s cross-connection control programs are aligned with Division of Environmental and Community Health requirements. Annual testing is required for all covered assemblies in all service territories.
Bangor Water District
Bangor Water District serves the greater Bangor area in eastern Maine. Annual testing by third-party certified testers is required. Test results are submitted directly to Bangor Water District.
Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority
The Lewiston-Auburn area is served by a water authority covering Maine’s second-largest metropolitan area. Cross-connection control requirements align with state standards. Annual testing is required for commercial and industrial connections.
Portland Water District's Expanded 2021 Coverage
Portland Water District’s 2021 expansion of its program to include all year-round water services that receive a meter installation — regardless of the facility’s current operational status — is a significant expansion. Properties that are temporarily closed, have inactive accounts, or are in the process of changing ownership are still subject to cross-connection control requirements if they have an active meter. Property managers acquiring or selling Maine properties should include a review of the cross-connection control status of the Portland Water District account.
Property Owner Compliance Summary for Maine
Third-party certification: Testing by Division of Environmental and Community Health-recognized third-party certified tester. ABPA, ASSE, NEWWA accepted.
Written plan: Your utility maintains the required written CCC plan. Your test records support it.
Annual testing: Required for all covered assemblies. Irrigation: preferred in spring before irrigation season.
Portland Water District: Program covers all year-round metered services regardless of facility status.
Records: Test reports and inventory records maintained and available for state sanitary survey review.
Find a Certified Backflow Tester in Maine
Find third-party certified testers recognized by Maine’s Division of Environmental and Community Health at getyourbackflowtested.com/backflow-testing-near-me/maine-backflow-testing — covering Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, Augusta, and all Maine communities.
Maine Regulatory Reference Links
| Resource / Agency | URL / Link Target |
|---|---|
Maine DHHS — Division of Environmental and Community Health — Cross Connections | |
Portland Water District — Cross Connections | |
Maine Water Company | |
Bangor Water District | |
NEWWA — New England Water Works Association |