Backflow Laws: Massachusetts
Massachusetts Backflow Prevention Laws, Regulations, and Compliance Requirements
Massachusetts is a high-regulation state for cross-connection control. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) administers requirements under 310 CMR 22.22, requiring MassDEP-certified Backflow Prevention Device Testers and separate MassDEP-certified Cross-Connection Control Surveyors. Repair windows are 14 days. Boston Water and Sewer Commission requires piping plans approved before installation. This guide covers 310 CMR 22.22 in depth, the NEWWA-based tester certification pathway, and major utilities including BWSC, Aquarion, Eversource/United Illuminating Water, and many town systems.
Massachusetts State Regulatory Framework — 310 CMR 22.22
Massachusetts’s cross-connection control requirements are established in the Massachusetts Drinking Water Regulations at 310 CMR 22.22 — Cross-Connection Distribution System Protection — administered by MassDEP. Massachusetts holds EPA primacy under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The Massachusetts Plumbing Code at 248 CMR 2.14 also requires installation of backflow preventers at all cross-connections. Both 310 CMR 22.22 and the Massachusetts Plumbing Code apply simultaneously.
Under 310 CMR 22.22, public water suppliers are required to: control cross-connections to the last free-flowing outlet of the consumer; have an approved Cross-Connection Control Program (CCCP); inspect all non-residential properties connected to the distribution system for cross-connections; maintain records including correspondence, program plans, testing records, violation notices, and other documents available for DEP inspection; ensure all devices are tested by a MassDEP-certified Backflow Prevention Device Tester; ensure all surveys are conducted by a MassDEP-certified Cross-Connection Control Surveyor; and establish and maintain a cross-connection control program for residential users including an educational component.
Property owners with covered assemblies must: notify the public water supplier of any connections protected by double check valve assemblies or reduced pressure backflow preventers; make the devices accessible for inspection and testing during normal business hours; maintain spare parts kits and special tools needed to repair devices; overhaul, repair, or replace any device that fails a test or is otherwise defective within 14 days of the initial inspection; submit copies of inspection and maintenance forms to the water supplier; and maintain on-premises testing records.
Massachusetts's 14-Day Repair Window
310 CMR 22.22 requires that property owners overhaul, repair, or replace any failed or defective backflow device within 14 days of the initial inspection. This 14-day window is one of the shorter repair windows among U.S. states (most allow 30 days). Property owners and facility managers must be prepared to respond quickly after a failed test — having a repair contractor relationship established in advance of any test failure is essential in Massachusetts.
MassDEP's Two Separate Tester/Inspector Credentials
Massachusetts has two distinct MassDEP-administered credentials: the Backflow Prevention Device Tester certificate and the Cross-Connection Control Surveyor certificate. The Tester certificate authorizes performance of annual field tests on installed backflow prevention assemblies. The Surveyor certificate authorizes surveys of non-residential (and residential, under the residential CCCP requirement) premises for cross-connections. Some individuals hold a Combination Certification covering both roles.
To obtain Backflow Prevention Device Tester certification: applicants must pass both a written and practical examination approved by MassDEP, then apply to MassDEP for certification within 12 months of passing. The New England Water Works Association (NEWWA) is the primary approved provider of the MassDEP-approved testing examination and continuing education. Renewal requires completion of Training Contact Hours (TCHs) and attendance at a NEWWA Backflow Prevention Device Tester Recertification Review Training or equivalent within the 3-year certification period.
MassDEP publishes a List of Massachusetts Certified Backflow Testers/Cross-Connection Surveyors (updated regularly). This is the definitive reference for confirming that a contractor holds a valid Massachusetts certification before scheduling testing.
Massachusetts Has Two Separate Testing and Survey Credentials
Many property owners assume that a backflow tester can also survey their premises for cross-connections. In Massachusetts, these are two separate MassDEP credentials: the Backflow Prevention Device Tester certificate and the Cross-Connection Control Surveyor certificate. If your water supplier requires a premises survey in addition to device testing, both credentials must be held by the person(s) performing those services — unless the contractor holds a Combination Certification. Always confirm both credential types with your contractor before scheduling combined inspection and testing services.
Major Water Purveyors in Massachusetts
Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC)
BWSC serves the City of Boston and is one of the most procedurally specific utilities in Massachusetts. BWSC’s cross-connection control requirements include a requirement that piping diagrams for new backflow prevention device installations be reviewed and approved by BWSC before the physical mechanical work begins. Backflow prevention devices must be installed by a Massachusetts Licensed Plumber or Sprinkler Fitter under permits issued by the City of Boston Inspectional Services Department and Boston Fire Department. BWSC-specific requirements apply in addition to 310 CMR 22.22 standards. Violations of BWSC cross-connection regulations are subject to fines up to $500 and/or one year in jail per willful violation under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 111, Section 160.
BWSC requires that testers hold valid Massachusetts Backflow Prevention Device Tester certification (MassDEP-issued). Annual testing is required. Test results must be submitted to BWSC within the utility’s specified window. BWSC specifies installation clearances: RPZ and DCVA assemblies must be installed in horizontal lines 3 to 4 feet above finished floor with specific side clearances.
Aquarion Water Company
Aquarion Water Company serves approximately 230,000 customers primarily in Fairfield County Connecticut, but also serves portions of southwestern Massachusetts including Milford, Medfield, and surrounding communities. Aquarion’s cross-connection control program is aligned with 310 CMR 22.22 for its Massachusetts service territory. Annual testing by MassDEP-certified testers is required.
Eversource (Formerly NSTAR) and Town Water Systems
The overwhelming majority of Massachusetts communities are served by municipally operated water departments rather than investor-owned utilities. Each municipality (town or city) operates its own cross-connection control program aligned with 310 CMR 22.22, with MassDEP conducting sanitary surveys of each system’s program implementation. Annual testing is required statewide. Repair within 14 days of failure applies statewide under 310 CMR 22.22.
Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant (TMLP), Springfield Water and Sewer Commission
Larger municipal systems including the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission (serving Springfield, Ludlow, and other communities), the Holyoke Water Works, and others operate comprehensive CCCP programs under 310 CMR 22.22 requirements. Each publishes its own approved tester procedures and filing instructions.
Massachusetts Penalties for Willful Violations
Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 111, Section 160, willful violation of Massachusetts Drinking Water Regulations promulgated by MassDEP carries a penalty of up to $500 and/or one year in jail per violation. BWSC cross-connection violations are explicitly subject to this statutory penalty range. This is one of the more serious criminal penalty provisions for backflow non-compliance among U.S. states. Property owners who knowingly bypass, remove, or fail to maintain required backflow protection devices face not just service termination but potential criminal liability.
Property Owner Compliance Summary for Massachusetts
Installation: By Massachusetts-licensed plumber or sprinkler fitter under local permits.
Testing: Annual by MassDEP-certified Backflow Prevention Device Tester. Submit results to your water supplier.
14-day repair: Any failed or defective device must be overhauled, repaired, or replaced within 14 days of inspection.
BWSC: Piping plans must be approved by BWSC before installation. Additional permit requirements apply.
Records: Maintain testing records, maintenance forms, approvals, and other documentation on-premises. Available for DEP review during sanitary surveys.
Find a Certified Backflow Tester in Massachusetts
Find MassDEP-certified testers at getyourbackflowtested.com/backflow-testing-near-me/massachusetts-backflow-testing or through the MassDEP Certified Tester list at mass.gov — covering Boston, Springfield, Worcester, Lowell, Cambridge, and all Massachusetts communities.
Massachusetts Regulatory Reference Links
| Resource / Agency | URL / Link Target |
|---|---|
MassDEP — Public Drinking Water System Operations (includes Certified Tester list) | |
310 CMR 22.22 — Cross Connection Regulations | |
Massachusetts Plumbing Code 248 CMR 2.14 — Cross-Connection Control | |
BWSC — Cross-Connection Regulations and Guidelines | |
NEWWA — Backflow Tester Certification (MassDEP-approved) |
Related Resources
getyourbackflowtested.com | Backflow Laws — Massachusetts Backflow Compliance Guide