Backflow testing in Atlanta

Who has to test in Atlanta

The rule depends on the utility that sends your water bill. Each line below is from that utility's own page.

• City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management: All commercial water customers need a backflow prevention assembly, plus some residential customers such as those with irrigation systems or certain home-based businesses.
• Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources: Backflow assemblies must be tested annually, when installed, repaired or relocated, or as the Department specifies, by Gwinnett County approved testers with a GAEPD recognized certification.
• DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management: Commercial and multi-family residential customers must install a backflow prevention assembly matched to the hazard at the property.
• Cobb County Water System: All non-residential customers must install a testable backflow assembly on every water service connection, unless the director approves an exception.
• Clayton County Water Authority: Unlike most Georgia utilities, CCWA's State Certified Backflow Specialists test and repair all backflow devices each year, so customers do not hire their own tester. That is about 5,000 commercial and industrial devices a year.

Sources: City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management; Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources; DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management; Cobb County Water System; Clayton County Water Authority

How each utility takes the test report

Most utilities here take the report online through a vendor portal; the tester files it. Open a utility for its own deadline, filing steps and fees.

What testing costs in Atlanta

These are amounts the utility or a company published on its own page, shown as published, never averaged.

• City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management: There is a cost to submit test reports through SwiftComply, charged only for passing tests; failed tests are not charged.
• Cobb County Water System: There is an $8.00 testing fee for each test report submitted.
• Clayton County Water Authority: Non-residential accounts pay a monthly backflow fee per service connection, effective July 1, 2012: $10 for 5/8 and 3/4 inch meters, $15 for 1 and 1.5 inch, $20 for 2 inch and larger.
• Clayton County Water Authority: The largest meter tier, 2 inch and up, pays $20 a month to cover testing and repairs.

Sources: City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management; Cobb County Water System; Clayton County Water Authority; Clayton County Water Authority

If the test is missed

• Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources: Under Section 114-57, the Director may discontinue water service when a required assembly is not installed, tested and maintained.

Source: Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources

Georgia rules behind the local programs

State rules set the minimum; the utilities above add their own deadlines and tester registration.

• Rule 391-3-5-.13(6): the supplier must require field testing after installation, repair or relocation and at least annually. Applies to all assemblies installed pursuant to the section.
• Rule 391-3-5-.13(7): certified by the Georgia Statewide program approved by the Division, or ABPA, ASSE or UF TREEO.
• Same rule names these bodies besides the Georgia statewide program.

Sources: Georgia rule; Georgia rule; Georgia rule