Backflow Laws: New Mexico
New Mexico Backflow Prevention Laws, Regulations, and Compliance Requirements
New Mexico's backflow prevention requirements are administered by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Drinking Water Bureau. The state's largest water system — Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) — operates under its Cross Connection Prevention and Control Ordinance (originally adopted 2007-2008, amended 2018). Rio Rancho requires a 40-hour tester training course plus city-specific certification and a city business license. Annual testing is required statewide. This guide covers NMED's regulatory framework, ABCWUA, Rio Rancho, and other major New Mexico utilities.
New Mexico State Regulatory Framework
New Mexico’s backflow prevention requirements are administered by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Drinking Water Bureau, which holds EPA primacy under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. NMED requires public water systems to implement cross-connection control programs and has oversight through annual sanitary surveys. Assembly approval references both USC-FCCCHR and the NMED Drinking Water Bureau — assemblies must be approved by an entity acceptable to NMED.
New Mexico cities implement cross-connection control through local ordinances. Albuquerque’s Cross Connection Prevention and Control Ordinance, adopted in 2007-2008 and amended in 2018, is one of the most detailed published ordinances in the state. Rio Rancho’s cross-connection ordinance (Chapter 54) includes its own tester certification requirements with a city-specific certification layer beyond NMED standards.
Annual Testing Requirement
Annual testing is required for all covered backflow prevention assemblies across New Mexico. Testing must be performed by NMED-certified or approved third-party testers who are also registered with the specific water utility. Test results must be submitted to the utility’s Cross-Connection Control Office within the specified window. Assemblies must be on the USC-FCCCHR approved list or approved by NMED.
NMED Tester Certification and Third-Party Recognition
New Mexico does not administer a standalone state backflow tester certification program in the way that states like Georgia or Indiana do. Instead, NMED recognizes testers certified by approved third-party organizations. The specific credential accepted may vary by utility — ABCWUA accepts NMED-recognized third-party certifications; Rio Rancho requires a 40-hour training course specifically approved by the Rio Rancho Utilities Division plus city-specific certification. Property owners must verify which credentials their specific utility accepts.
ABCWUA's Cross Connection Ordinance — Adopted 2007, Amended 2018
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority’s Cross Connection Prevention and Control Ordinance (Section 8 of ABCWUA’s ordinances) was originally adopted August 20, 2008 (O-07-7) and was significantly amended August 1, 2018 (O-18-6). The 2018 amendment updated the program requirements to reflect current standards. All irrigation systems in ABCWUA’s service area must have backflow prevention devices, and all businesses and institutions handling hazardous materials must install backflow prevention assemblies. Annual testing results must be submitted to ABCWUA’s Cross Connection Control Office.
Major Water Purveyors in New Mexico
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA)
ABCWUA is by far New Mexico’s largest water utility, serving approximately 650,000 people in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. ABCWUA’s cross-connection control program operates under its Cross Connection Prevention and Control Ordinance (Section 8), adopted 2008 and amended 2018. ABCWUA requires that Certified Backflow Prevention Device Testers inspect and test assemblies in accordance with approved methods and submit accurate and timely reports to the Cross Connection Control Office using ABCWUA’s Backflow Prevention Assembly Test Report form.
ABCWUA’s program requires: annual testing for all covered assemblies; all irrigation systems must have backflow prevention devices; businesses and institutions using hazardous materials require specific protection; and annual testing reminders are mailed approximately 30 days before the test is due. Testers must be registered with ABCWUA to submit results in its jurisdiction. Contact: Cross Connection Office, James Baca at (505) 289-3454, or backflow@abcwua.org.
City of Rio Rancho Utilities Division
Rio Rancho, New Mexico’s second-largest city (in Sandoval County), operates under Chapter 54 of its Municipal Code — the Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Control Program Ordinance. Rio Rancho has the most specific local tester certification requirements in New Mexico: to perform backflow testing in Rio Rancho, an individual must attend a 40-hour training course approved by the Rio Rancho Utilities Division, pass the certification examination, and hold a current city business license and city-issued certificate. Backflow repairmen must additionally be licensed under the New Mexico Construction Industries Licensing Act. The testing laboratory standard is USC-FCCCHR approval.
Rio Rancho’s ordinance requires immediate termination of water service if a contamination hazard is discovered during an inspection, with service restoration only after the hazard is controlled, the premises inspected, and any required assemblies installed and tested. Failure to allow inspection can also result in service termination.
City of Santa Fe
Santa Fe’s municipal water serves New Mexico’s capital and a large tourist economy. Santa Fe’s cross-connection control program covers commercial, institutional, and irrigation connections. Annual testing is required. Testers must hold credentials accepted by Santa Fe’s utility.
Las Cruces Utilities
Las Cruces Utilities serves the second-largest city in New Mexico in Dona Ana County. Las Cruces’ cross-connection control program aligns with NMED requirements, requiring annual testing for all covered assemblies. Backflow prevention is required at all irrigation, commercial, industrial, and fire protection connections presenting cross-connection hazards.
Alamogordo and Smaller New Mexico Communities
Alamogordo’s Article 8-08 Cross Connection Prevention and Control Ordinance is published in its municipal code and references USC-FCCCHR and IAPMO assembly approval standards. Alamogordo’s ordinance defines containment and isolation configurations and establishes tester credential requirements for its service area. Similar ordinances operate across dozens of New Mexico municipalities.
New Mexico's Irrigation Mandate — All Systems Require Protection
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority’s Cross Connection Ordinance requires that all irrigation systems in its service area have backflow prevention devices — not just commercial or high-hazard systems. New Mexico’s semi-arid climate drives heavy irrigation water use, making irrigation backflow assemblies one of the most common compliance obligations for residential and commercial property owners throughout the state. Any property with an underground irrigation system connected to a public water supply requires an approved backflow prevention device.
Property Owner Compliance Summary for New Mexico
ABCWUA: Annual testing by ABCWUA-registered certified tester. Submit results using ABCWUA’s Backflow Prevention Assembly Test Report form to backflow@abcwua.org.
Rio Rancho: City-specific certification required (40-hour approved training + city exam + city business license) in addition to state qualifications. Repairers also need NM Construction Industries license.
All irrigation: Backflow prevention devices required on all irrigation systems connected to public water supply.
Annual testing: Universal requirement across New Mexico utilities.
Assemblies: USC-FCCCHR approved assemblies required (NMED-approved standard).
Find a Certified Backflow Tester in New Mexico
Find NMED-recognized certified testers registered with your New Mexico utility at getyourbackflowtested.com/backflow-testing-near-me/new-mexico-backflow-testing — covering Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, and all major New Mexico communities.
New Mexico Regulatory Reference Links
| Resource / Agency | URL / Link Target |
|---|---|
NMED — Drinking Water Bureau | |
ABCWUA — Cross Connections | |
ABCWUA — Cross Connection Ordinance (Section 8, amended 2018) | |
Rio Rancho Municipal Code Chapter 54 — Backflow Prevention Ordinance | |
Alamogordo — Article 8-08 Cross Connection Ordinance | |
USC-FCCCHR — Approved Backflow Prevention Assembly List |