01Why backflow matters
Backflow is water flowing the wrong way, from a home's system back into the public supply. Fulton County's backflow page says contamination can happen through uncontrolled cross connections when pressure in the water system fluctuates, for example during a main break or fire fighting, and that only an active backflow prevention program can reduce the likelihood. The County controls cross connections by containment, isolating individual service connections from distribution lines with an approved device.
The County lists responsibilities on both sides. It assures water quality, enforces County code, runs the program and keeps records. Customers install approved devices, test and maintain them annually, and report the results to the County.
02Do residential homes need a device?
Fulton County's backflow policy classifies service connections by hazard. Residential single and multi-family connections serving fewer than 15 units with no installed irrigation or sprinkler systems are low hazard, and the policy says the County may not require protection on low hazard customers at the Director's discretion. Irrigation and sprinkler systems are classed as medium hazard, or high hazard where chemicals are injected.
For irrigation, the policy says minimum protection is a double check backflow preventer, and a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer where chemicals are injected. The County determines the required device based on the degree of hazard, and says containment devices should be installed as close as possible to the service meter.
03Annual testing
The policy says pressure vacuum breakers, double check assemblies and reduced pressure assemblies must be inspected and tested at installation and at least annually after that, with dates set by Fulton County. Tests must be performed by certified, trained professionals who provide the County with documentation of their qualification, following the FCCCHR manual and AWWA Manual M-14.
The County's backflow page says a certified tester must perform tests and submit the results to Fulton County through SwiftComply. The customer is responsible for the cost of testing, maintaining and repairing backflow preventers at the service connection and on the private system. Fulton County also publishes a list of certified backflow prevention assembly testers.
Need a licensed plumber to look at it?
Free Quote Request04Repairs need a licensed plumber
The County's policy says repairs and installation must be performed by a licensed plumber who is trained and certified to enter the device as prescribed by the Georgia State Plumbing Code. After each test or repair, a report goes to the County with the device details, the date, the tester's certification number, the repairer's license number and the results.
Our license guide explains how to check a Georgia plumber's license class. Alpharetta's plumbing permit application lists an irrigation meter line item, so a new irrigation connection is permitted work; see permits.
05If a test is missed or fails
The policy says that failure to install or test the appropriate backflow preventer, after a 60-day notification period for high and medium hazard connections, may result in termination of water service, and that service will not be reconnected until backflow protection is in place. Where contamination is found or suspected, the County may discontinue service immediately.
If you receive a notice, contact a certified tester promptly. If the device fails, a licensed plumber can repair or replace it and the tester can retest and submit the result.
06Roswell and Milton
Fulton County says all of Milton is within its water service area, so these rules apply to Milton homes with irrigation too; see Milton irrigation and backflow. The City of Roswell runs its own backflow program for Roswell Water Utility customers and publishes an approved tester list; see Roswell plumbing help.
A Free Quote Request lets independent licensed plumbers contact you about backflow device repair or replacement.