H 7918Water Resources

Waters and Navigation - Public Drinking Water Supply

This bill prohibits the state from requiring inspections of water backflow prevention devices more frequently than once every ten years.

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Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Environment and Natural Resources

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends the "Public Drinking Water Supply" laws in Rhode Island, specifically regarding cross-connection control systems (devices that prevent backflow and water contamination). The bill restricts the state's ability to mandate inspections or certifications for these backflow prevention devices. Under the new law, the state cannot require these systems to be inspected or certified more often than once every ten years. An exception is made if there is an emergency or a specific public health situation, in which case more frequent inspections are allowed.

For younger readers

The government has rules to keep our drinking water clean. They use special valves to stop dirty water from flowing backwards into the clean water pipes. Right now, there are rules about checking these valves to make sure they are working correctly. This new law says that the government cannot force people to have these valves checked more than once every ten years. The only time they can check them sooner is if there is a big emergency or a health problem that needs to be fixed right away.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Property OwnersSmall Business OwnersPlumbers and InspectorsPublic Water SystemsGeneral Public

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Reduces the recurring financial burden on low-income homeowners and small businesses by eliminating the costs associated with frequent, state-mandated inspections.
Prevents excessive government intrusion into private homes and small community organizations by limiting mandatory access for inspections to once a decade.
Allows non-profit organizations and community services to redirect funds that would have been spent on annual compliance fees toward direct services for the community.
Significantly weakens public health protections by allowing mechanical backflow prevention devices to go uninspected for ten years, increasing the risk of water contamination.
Undermines the state's ability to proactively manage environmental safety, shifting the focus to reactive measures only after an emergency or health crisis occurs.
Potentially places vulnerable populations living in older housing stock at higher risk, as equipment failures may go undetected for a decade.

For Conservatives

Reduces the regulatory burden on businesses and property owners by drastically decreasing the frequency of government-mandated inspections and certifications.
Protects private property rights by limiting the frequency with which state agents or mandated inspectors must be granted access to a property.
Eliminates unnecessary red tape and compliance costs, allowing businesses to operate more efficiently without constant bureaucratic oversight.
Could lead to the degradation of essential infrastructure, potentially harming property values if water supply reliability is compromised by a lack of maintenance.
Risks inviting federal intervention or oversight if the state's relaxed inspection standards fail to meet national safety benchmarks for drinking water.
May result in higher long-term costs for property owners if valid maintenance issues are ignored for a decade and result in catastrophic system failures.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 5 additions

SECTION 1. Section 46-13-22 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-13 entitled "Public Drinking Water Supply" is hereby amended to read as follows: 46-13-22. Cross-connection control.

(a) The director is hereby authorized to adopt consistent statewide regulations governing the content of cross-connection control plans and to require that all community public water systems and all non-transient, non-community public water systems prepare a cross-connection control plan. The purpose of these plans shall be to protect the public water system distribution and transmission infrastructure from contamination through cross-connections. All community public water systems and all non-transient, non-community public water systems shall certify to the director that said plan complies with the regulations in accordance with the following schedule:

(1) Community and non-transient, non-community public water systems serving more than five hundred (500) people shall submit certification of compliance no later than June 30, 2011, and implement said plan immediately thereafter.

(2) Community and non-transient, non-community public water systems serving five hundred (500) people or fewer shall submit certification of compliance no later than June 30, 2012, and implement said plan immediately thereafter.

(b) The regulations governing cross-connection control plans adopted by the director shall at a minimum include: the installation of cross-connection control valves at all newly constructed service connections prior to the provision of water service; the installation of cross connection control valves at all commercial and industrial service connections. The installation of cross- connection control devices shall not be made a mandatory condition of a transfer of a residential property that exists as of the effective date of this act [June 27, 2007].

(c) Public water supply systems shall be authorized to terminate water service to any customer who fails to install the appropriate cross-connection control device upon due notice.

(d) The cross-connection control devices required to be installed shall be models approved by the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of Southern California (FCCCHR, USC), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and/or the American Society of Sanitary Engineers (ASSE).

(e) The director may also adopt and enforce standards including the establishment of fees for certification of persons engaged in cross-connection surveying or backflow prevention, assembly training, repair and maintenance testing; provided, however, that no regulation or rule shall be promulgated or enforced which requires the inspection or certification of any backflow prevention device or system more frequently than once every ten (10) years except in response to an emergency or public health situation.

(f) Any regulations and/or standards promulgated, amended and/or administered pursuant to the provisions of this section shall conform to the requirements of chapter 35 of title 42 (“The Administrative Procedures Act.”)

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.