Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities: backflow testing rules
Serves Athens, GA; Athens-Clarke County, GA. Every point below comes from Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities's own pages, linked; check your notice for your own deadline.
Who must test
- All backflow devices must be kept in working order and tested right after installation and at least once a year; rubber parts are replaced at least every five years. Source.
How the report is filed
- A new assembly must be tested and pass within five working days of installation, and the report must reach the cross connection control office within ten working days. Source.
Tester registration
- Every assembly must be tested by a certified backflow tester approved by the Athens-Clarke County cross connection coordinator, and test gauges must be calibrated each year with the record sent to the coordinator. Source.
Approved testers
- The program page links the list of testers certified by the county program for yearly inspections. Source.
If a test is missed
- If repairs or replacements are not done after a second notice, the customer has ten days to comply or water service is terminated; service is restored and retested once the work is done. Source.
Program
- Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities runs a Cross Connection Control Program to protect the water supply from intentional and unintentional contamination, with a published backflow manual and test form. Source.
How to file your backflow test with Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities
- Read your notice. It names the assembly, its location and the date the report is due.
- Book a tester Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities accepts. See finding a tester below; book early so there is time to repair a failed assembly.
- The tester tests the assembly and fills in the test report. A failed assembly is repaired and tested again.
- The report is filed. A new assembly must be tested and pass within five working days of installation, and the report must reach the cross connection control office within ten working days.Source.
- Keep a copy and set a reminder for next year. Set a free test-due reminder.
Finding a tester Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities accepts
Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities posts a list of testers it accepts on accgov.com. Open the list. The testers on this site hold a state certificate; check the list or ask the tester whether Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities accepts them.
Before you book, ask the tester:
- Are you registered with Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities?
- Will you send the test report to the utility for me, and how?
- When is my report due? The date is on your notice; the tester needs time to test, repair if needed and file.
Other water utilities in Georgia
- City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
- Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources
- DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management
- Cobb County Water System
- Augusta Utilities Department
- City of Savannah Water Resources
- Clayton County Water Authority
- Macon Water Authority
Read October 6, 2026. Program page: accgov.com.