RULES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

Safe Drinking Water Act

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GEPA) exists to provide Georgia’s citizens clean air, clean water, healthy lives and productive land by assuring compliance with environmental laws and by assisting others to do their part for a better environment.  One environmental law of particular interest for this discussion is the requirement to test or inspect backflow preventers periodically to ensure that the public water supply is not contaminated.

The specific rules that apply to the GEPA requirement to inspect or test backflow preventers periodically can be found in the Official Code of Georgia 391-3-5.13, “ Rules for Safe Drinking Water.”  Essentially the rule states that suppliers of water or anyone using water from a public water system is responsible for maintaining water quality by ensuring that they have not imparted contamination as a result of backflow, by-pass arrangements, jumper connections, etc., or any device that could allow backflow to occur.  Further the law requires water suppliers to develop a control program and to be able to prove their compliance to regulations.

To view The Georgia Rules for Safe Drinking Water Chapter 391-3-5-.13 in its entirety please click here.