New Information about Backflow Preventer Testing Credential Requirements
This message is being sent to parties throughout Michigan responsible for ensuring the cross connection requirements of the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act are being followed.
The purpose of this message is to make you aware of a recent regulatory interpretative statement that impacts local cross connection control programs. In summary, the Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) within the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, was asked to review the credential requirements for individuals testing backflow preventer assemblies. BCC concluded that the Michigan Plumbing Code and Skilled Trades and Regulation Act require the testing of backflow prevention assemblies to be performed by a master plumber, journey plumber, or an apprentice plumber under the direct supervision of a journey or master plumber. The interpretive statement was recently sent out to licensed plumbers and is posted online here.
The important point is in addition to EGLE’s requirement to have a valid ASSE 5110 certification, testers now must also be a master plumber, journey plumber, or an apprentice plumber under the direct supervision of a journey or master plumber to test in Michigan. Therefore, public water supplies should only be accepting test results from testers that carry both credentials. Tester credentials should always be provided and verified on individual test report forms.
Because this change in interpretation will cause testing availability challenges in parts of the state, EGLE will consider local factors into enforcement decisions while public water supplies work through the transition. Please read the frequently asked questions (FAQ) document posted to EGLE’s cross connection control website under the “Testing of Backflow Preventers” heading.
Questions not addressed in the FAQ document that are related to public water supply implementation can be directed to Mike Bolf, BolfM@Michigan.gov.
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