01Why Roswell has two water systems
Most of north Fulton is served by one water system, but Roswell has two. The City of Roswell's water utility page says the City operates the Roswell Water Treatment Plant, which can produce 3,300,000 gallons per day, and maintains 89 miles of distribution mains. The City's lead and copper page says the utility serves approximately 5,900 metered customers in downtown Roswell and surrounding areas, draws water from Big Creek, a Chattahoochee tributary, and that Fulton County serves the rest of the city.
Fulton County describes the same split from its side: its North Fulton Water Distribution System covers all of Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Milton and a majority of Roswell, while the City of Roswell serves a portion of the southwest part of the city.
02How to tell which one you have
The quickest way is your water bill: the name of the utility is printed on it. Fulton County also says you can use its Water Service Lookup tool to find out whether an address is in its service area, and it publishes a sample bill. The City of Roswell publishes a Roswell Water Utility service area map as a PDF on its water utility page.
New Fulton County accounts are set up through the County's Water and Sewer Billing and Collections Division, which lists its north location at 11575 Maxwell Road in Alpharetta and accepts applications by email at [email protected].
03Emergency numbers differ
For Roswell Water Utility customers, the City lists 770-641-3707 from Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 770-640-4100 after hours through police dispatch. For Fulton County water customers, the City lists 770-640-3040, the same number Fulton County gives for drinking water concerns north of the Chattahoochee River.
Sewer is the same for everyone. The City's FAQ says Fulton County handles all sewer lines, and the County lists 404-612-3061 for north Fulton sewer emergencies.
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Free Quote Request04Bills and leak credits differ
Fulton County customers pay the County's tiered rates: in 2026, Tier 1 water is $4.74 per 1,000 gallons, Tier 2 $5.91 and Tier 3 $9.47 during April to October, with sewer volume at $8.98 per 1,000 gallons. Our leak cost calculator and leak adjustment guide apply to County customers only.
Roswell Water Utility customers are billed by the City, which publishes its own Roswell Water Utility Rates and billing pages. Ask the City about any leak relief, since Fulton County's policy does not apply to City water accounts.
05What stays the same
Whatever the provider, plumbing work inside the property is done by a Georgia-licensed plumber, and Roswell's building FAQ says water heaters require permits and inspections. Fulton County says the owner owns the line from the meter to the building on its system, and the owner owns the sewer lateral to the property line. Both utilities run backflow programs, and the City publishes an approved tester list.
Georgia EPD's outdoor watering rule, which limits watering of established landscapes to between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., applies to anyone whose water comes from an EPD-permitted system, which includes both utilities.
06Next steps
For a leak, start with the meter test in our leak detection guide. For a burst pipe, follow the emergency steps. For a backup, see sewer backups. Back to Roswell plumbing help.
If you need a licensed plumber, a Free Quote Request lets independent local plumbers contact you.