Backflow Laws: New Hampshire
New Hampshire Backflow Prevention Laws, Regulations, and Compliance Requirements
New Hampshire's backflow prevention requirements are administered by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NHDHHS) Division of Drinking Water and Groundwater (DDWG), with tester certification set locally by water utilities and jurisdictions. NEWWA (New England Water Works Association) training is widely accepted. Utilities and local jurisdictions drive program specifics. This guide covers New Hampshire's state framework and the programs of Manchester Water Works, Concord Utilities, and other major New Hampshire water systems.
New Hampshire State Regulatory Framework
New Hampshire’s drinking water program is administered by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NHDHHS) Division of Drinking Water and Groundwater (DDWG), which holds EPA primacy under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. New Hampshire’s cross-connection control requirements are established in the New Hampshire Administrative Rules (He-Ws 1300, Safe Drinking Water), requiring public water systems to implement cross-connection control programs.
New Hampshire’s approach to backflow prevention is primarily utility-driven, with the state providing a regulatory framework and oversight through sanitary surveys of public water systems, while individual utilities and local jurisdictions set their specific program requirements. New Hampshire does not administer a statewide backflow tester certification program — instead, local jurisdictions and water utilities set tester credential requirements, with NEWWA (New England Water Works Association) training widely accepted.
New Hampshire Tester Certification
New Hampshire does not maintain a state-issued backflow tester credential. Tester certification requirements are set by individual water systems and local jurisdictions. The most commonly accepted credentials are NEWWA-based certification, ABPA, and ASSE 5110. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services lists NEWWA as an accepted training provider for cross-connection control topics. Property owners should confirm their utility’s specific accepted credential before scheduling testing.
New Hampshire's Utility-Centric Program Structure
New Hampshire’s backflow prevention landscape is shaped by individual utility programs rather than a centralized state certification system. Each major New Hampshire water system — Manchester Water Works, Concord’s utilities, Nashua’s Pennichuck Water Works, and others — establishes its own tester acceptance criteria, test report submission procedures, and compliance enforcement processes. Contractors who serve multiple New Hampshire utilities must confirm compliance requirements separately with each utility they work in.
Major Water Purveyors in New Hampshire
Manchester Water Works
Manchester Water Works serves New Hampshire’s largest city with approximately 100,000 customers in Manchester and surrounding communities. Manchester’s cross-connection control program requires annual testing for all covered assemblies. Testers must hold credentials accepted by Manchester Water Works, with NEWWA-based certification being the primary accepted credential in New Hampshire utilities.
Pennichuck Water Works (Nashua)
Pennichuck Water Works serves the Nashua metropolitan area — New Hampshire’s second-largest city. Pennichuck Water Works (part of Pennichuck Corporation) operates a cross-connection control program covering commercial, industrial, and high-hazard connections. Annual testing is required. Testers must hold credentials accepted by Pennichuck.
City of Concord Public Works
Concord’s public works department serves the state capital. The cross-connection control program covers commercial and industrial connections with annual testing requirements. Testers should confirm Concord’s specific credential acceptance policy before scheduling.
Other New Hampshire Utilities
Portsmouth, Dover, Keene, and other New Hampshire cities each operate municipal water systems with cross-connection control programs. Vermont and New Hampshire share the New England regulatory environment, and NEWWA training and certification is the dominant preparation pathway for testers working across New England.
New Hampshire's Lack of a State Certified Tester List
Unlike states that publish official lists of state-certified testers (Massachusetts, Maine, Georgia), New Hampshire does not maintain a publicly available state-level certified tester database. Property owners must confirm tester credentials directly with their water system or check NEWWA’s membership directory for contractors who have completed NEWWA-approved training. This creates a more opaque market for backflow testing services in New Hampshire — verify credentials with your utility before scheduling.
Property Owner Compliance Summary for New Hampshire
Tester credential: Confirm accepted credential with your specific utility. NEWWA certification is widely accepted; also ABPA and ASSE 5110.
Annual testing: Required for all covered assemblies across New Hampshire utility programs.
Filing: Submit results to your specific utility per their requirements.
Records: Retain test and repair documentation.
Find a Certified Backflow Tester in New Hampshire
Find NEWWA, ABPA, or ASSE-certified testers accepted by New Hampshire utilities at getyourbackflowtested.com/backflow-testing-near-me/new-hampshire-backflow-testing — covering Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Portsmouth, and all major New Hampshire communities.
New Hampshire Regulatory Reference Links
| Resource / Agency | URL / Link Target |
|---|---|
NH DHHS — Division of Drinking Water and Groundwater | |
NH Administrative Rules — He-Ws 1300 Safe Drinking Water | |
NEWWA — New England Water Works Association (Tester Training) | |
Manchester Water Works | |
Pennichuck Water Works |
Related Resources
getyourbackflowtested.com | Backflow Laws — New Hampshire Backflow Compliance Guide