State rules
Florida
Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection describes a cross-connection control and backflow prevention program for public water suppliers. The program page says a cross-connection is a connection between a drinking-water system and any source or system containing nonpotable water or other substances. It says backflow into a public water system can make that water unusable or unsafe, and that each supplier must take reasonable precautions because consumers expect delivered water to be safe. The page does not create a state backflow-tester license. Community systems must have a written program under the rule the Department cites, Rule 62-555.360, Florida Administrative Code.
Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Drinking-water agency
- The Florida Department of Environmental Protection drinking-water program oversees Rule 62-555.360 cross-connection control.
- Who may test an assembly
- The Department requires the public water system to run the program. The state pages reviewed do not issue a tester license.
- Official program page
- Official page →
The Department’s requirements summary says community water systems, and systems whose areas are also served by reclaimed water under Part III of Chapter 62-610, shall establish a routine cross-connection control program. The program must detect and control cross-connections and prevent backflow that creates or could create an imminent and substantial danger to public health. The written plan uses recommended practices in AWWA Manual M14, as incorporated into Rule 62-555.330. On discovery of a prohibited cross-connection, the system eliminates it with a device acceptable to the Department or discontinues service until the contaminant source is eliminated.
The program page says suppliers usually do not have the authority or capability to repeatedly inspect every consumer’s premises. It says each supplier should instead ensure a proper backflow preventer is installed and maintained at the service connection to each system or premises that poses a significant hazard. The page lists an air gap as the basic means of preventing backflow and names the reduced-pressure principle assembly, the pressure vacuum breaker assembly, and the double check valve assembly as the principal mechanical types. A residential dual check is described as a secondary type. The page does not say a named third-party tester card is a statewide license.
Systems that must report use the Department’s cross-connection control program annual report form. That form asks whether the written plan includes the components in Table 62-555.360-1 and asks for counts of service connections and of backflow protection inspected or tested during the year. Those counts are the water system’s compliance record. A customer who is told to test an assembly should ask that system who may sign the test, because the state pages reviewed here assign the program to the supplier and do not publish a state tester roster.
Official resources in Florida
Explains supplier responsibility, hazards, and the main types of backflow preventers.
Summarizes the Rule 62-555.360 cross-connection program duty for community systems.
Form community systems use to report the written plan and annual inspection or testing counts.
Key facts for Florida
- DEP says each water supplier must take reasonable precautions to protect the public water system against backflow.
- Community systems must establish a routine cross-connection control program under Rule 62-555.360.
- The written plan uses AWWA Manual M14 practices incorporated into Rule 62-555.330.
- A prohibited cross-connection must be eliminated with a device acceptable to the Department, or service must be discontinued until the source is eliminated.
- The program page names air gaps, reduced-pressure principle assemblies, pressure vacuum breakers, and double check valve assemblies.
- The pages reviewed do not create a Florida backflow-tester license or roster.
What to do next
- Ask the utility, not a generic trainer, who is allowed to submit the test the utility will accept.
- If the property is served by both drinking water and reclaimed water, tell the tester and the utility before work starts.
- A failed or missing protection can lead the utility to discontinue service until the source of contamination is eliminated.
- Do not treat AWWA M14 as a personal credential; the rule cites it as the basis for the system’s written plan.
Looking for your city or county in Florida?
We haven't found official program-level pages for Florida we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Florida, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.Florida DEP cross-connection control program
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Florida page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- What a backflow test is
- Who is allowed to test a backflow assembly
- Why utilities require annual backflow testing
- Tester and cross-connection specialist