State rules
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection certifies backflow prevention device testers and cross-connection surveyors under 310 CMR 22.22. The WS 10 instructions say any individual who passes a Department-approved written and practical examination for inspecting and testing backflow prevention devices, or a Department-approved written examination for conducting cross-connection surveys, may apply. A tester who does not apply within twelve months after passing the exam must retake the written and practical examination. Certificates are the approval to test devices or to survey drinking-water lines. The public drinking-water operations page posts a list of certified testers and surveyors, revised April 2026.
Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Drinking-water agency
- The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection certifies backflow testers and cross-connection surveyors under 310 CMR 22.22.
- Who may test an assembly
- Backflow prevention device tests are conducted by a MassDEP-certified backflow prevention device tester.
- Official program page
- Official page →
- Tester lookup
- Official page →
The regulations say a Massachusetts certified cross-connection surveyor conducts surveys and a certified backflow prevention device tester conducts tests. A combination certification covers both. The public water system ensures each reduced-pressure preventer is inspected semiannually under the approved plan. If the supply is used less than six months a year, those devices are tested once a year. Each double check valve assembly is tested annually by a certified tester. A failed or defective device is repaired or replaced and retested within 14 calendar days, with repair by a licensed plumber to the extent 248 CMR 2.04(3) requires.
The program manual says reduced-pressure devices registered by a public water system are tested semiannually by a MassDEP certified tester, and double check valve assemblies are tested annually. It says tests follow methods in EPA’s Cross-Connection Control Manual or the USC Manual of Cross-Connection Control. Fire-system work has an additional limit: no person shall overhaul, repair, or replace a device on a fire system without approval from the head of the local fire department under M.G.L. c. 148, section 27A. That is a fire-department approval, not a second tester license.
Renewal instructions say a tester documents 24 inspections or tests and 3 training contact hours in the past three years, and a surveyor documents survey work and training contact hours as the fact sheet describes. The operations page links the April 2026 spreadsheet of certified testers and surveyors. Use that list together with the person’s certificate. The fact sheet does not set out a single public fee in the portion used here, so no fee is stated. Legislative authority cited on the fact sheet is M.G.L. c. 111, section 160A.
Official resources in Massachusetts
Application path for a new or renewed tester or surveyor certification.
Sets who may test, semiannual reduced-pressure testing, and the 14-day repair and retest rule.
Links the April 2026 list of certified backflow testers and cross-connection surveyors.
Key facts for Massachusetts
- MassDEP certifies backflow prevention device testers and cross-connection surveyors.
- A tester must apply within twelve months after passing the approved written and practical exams or retake them.
- Reduced-pressure backflow preventers are inspected semiannually, or once a year if the supply is used less than six months.
- Double check valve assemblies are tested annually by a certified tester.
- A failed or defective device must be repaired or replaced and retested within 14 calendar days.
- Fire-system repair or replacement needs approval from the local fire department head.
What to do next
- Check the MassDEP certified-tester list and ask whether the person is a tester, a surveyor, or both.
- Ask whether your reduced-pressure assembly is on a six-month or annual schedule.
- If a test fails, ask who the licensed plumber will be for the repair and when the retest will occur inside 14 days.
- For a fire-line device, ask about local fire-department approval before any repair.
Looking for your city or county in Massachusetts?
We haven't found official program-level pages for Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts, 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.MassDEP cross connection certification
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 Massachusetts 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