Alpharetta is on Fulton County water, and the county requires testable backflow devices to be tested every year by a certified tester who files the result through SwiftComply. The county runs the program from its Maxwell Road office in Alpharetta. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Alpharetta.
Alpharetta and the Fulton County program
The City of Alpharetta doesn't supply water; its services page sends water and sewer billing to Fulton County. That puts every Alpharetta account under the county's Backflow Prevention program, which happens to be administered right here, from the Water Resources office at 11575 Maxwell Road (404-612-4226). With a median build year of 1996 and most subdivisions laid out from the 1980s on, many of them around Windward Parkway and Haynes Bridge Road with sprinklers from the start, the annual test is a routine chore for a lot of households. Fulton County maintains the line from the main to the meter; the device and everything after the meter belong to the owner.
What to do now
- Find the device. On most lots it's near the irrigation tap or close to the meter. Write down the make, model, size and serial number.
- Check the date of the last test. Fulton County expects testable devices to pass every year.
- Book a certified tester. The tester files the result through SwiftComply, so confirm they're set up to do that.
- Plan for repairs. If the device fails, the county requires it to be repaired and retested.
- Pull a permit for new work. Adding or moving an assembly goes through the city's online trade permit portal, with inspections through the City Inspections Division at 678-297-6080.
- Keep the paperwork. A copy of each passing report saves trouble when you sell the house.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Water dripping from the body with sprinklers off | Worn O-ring, gasket or check seat |
| Relief valve on an RP assembly spitting water | Fouled first check or a pressure swing in the line |
| Cracked brass or a bulged cap | Water left inside during a freeze |
| Weak spray from every zone | A shutoff partly closed after testing, or debris in a check |
| Test cock won't seal | Damaged ball valve or seat in the test cock |
What drives the cost
A backflow visit is usually short, but a few things can stretch it out or add parts.
- A simple pass versus a rebuild and second test
- The type and size of assembly
- Replacement versus repair after freeze damage
- Digging out a buried or overgrown box
- Permit and inspection steps when the device is added or moved
Backflow Testing questions in Alpharetta
Who is allowed to test my backflow assembly?
Is the backflow assembly mine or the utility's?
Do I need a permit to install or move a backflow assembly?
Why is my backflow device leaking or dumping water?
More plumbing services in Alpharetta
Backflow Testing nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: