Georgia Adopts New Waterline Testing Regs
The dental profession in Georgia has reached a pivotal moment in infection-control and patient-safety standards. The Georgia Board of Dentistry (GBD) has formally adopted Rule 150-8-.05: “Dental Unit Water Quality”, which takes effect July 20, 2025.
At Woodhouse Laboratories, we’re committed to helping dental practices understand and comply with this new regulation. Here’s a breakdown of what the rule requires, why it matters, and how you can put a practical compliance plan into place.
Why this regulation?
Waterlines in dental operatories may seem like a “behind-the-scenes” issue, but they carry real risk. Biofilms and microbial contamination can build up in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) and expose patients and staff to unwanted pathogens.
In Georgia, the board cited recent concerns—among them documented outbreaks of Mycobacterium abscessus infection linked to contaminated waterlines—as part of the impetus for formal rulemaking.
In short: the regulation brings state‐mandated standards to a topic many practices may have already been addressing voluntarily—but now it becomes enforceable.
Core Provisions of Rule 150-8-.05
Here are the major requirements your practice must meet under the new rule. (Note: These are a summary; you should consult the full rule text for complete guidance.)
1. Water quality standard
For nonsurgical dental procedures, the water used must meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drinking-water standard of ≤ 500 colony‐forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) of heterotrophic bacteria.
2. Testing frequency & methods
- Testing of DUWLs must occur at least quarterly (every 3 months) for each water delivery system in the practice
- Testing must also be performed within 30 days after any repair, change in plumbing, or modification of the water delivery system.
- Practices have a choice: test each waterline individually or use a pooled sample of up to 10 lines per sample (so long as equal volumes are used and the number of lines in the pool is documented).
3. Remedial action
If the test results exceed the allowable limit (> 500 CFU/mL), the licensed dentist must initiate and document immediate remedial action to bring the water quality back into compliance.
4. Record keeping
- All test results (dates, personnel, independent lab reports) must be documented and retained for at least five years.
- The rule underscores that testing must follow manufacturers’ instructions for use; if none exist, the dentist is responsible to ensure the testing schedule and quality standard are met.
5. Effective date & applicability
- While preliminary guidance suggested a testing requirement starting earlier, the official effective date for Rule 150-8-.05 is July 20, 2025.
- Practices operating in Georgia should plan to be fully compliant as of that date — if not already.
Why this matters for your practice
- Patient safety: Complying means you’re doing your part to prevent infections from dental waterlines — a historically under‐recognized risk vector.
- Regulatory risk: With the rule in effect, noncompliance could lead to enforcement action by the Georgia Board of Dentistry.
- Reputation & trust: Being able to state that your practice follows the state’s standard for safe dental waterlines can be a differentiator for patients who are increasingly aware of infection‐control issues.
- Operational clarity: Rather than ambiguous “best practice” statements, you now have specific state requirements to build into your protocols.
You can view the new policies in full here.
Need to test your waterlines? Woodhouse Laboratories can help!
