Alpharetta businesses are Fulton County water and sewer customers, and Fulton's backflow program requires each testable device to be tested every year by a certified tester. Plumbing work is permitted by the City of Alpharetta through its online trade permit portal. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Alpharetta.
Alpharetta is north Fulton's office and tech hub, with campuses along Windward and North Point parkways, the Avalon district and a rebuilt downtown. The city does not run water or sewer; Fulton County Public Works provides both. Interestingly, Fulton's backflow program is run from its Water Resources office on Maxwell Road, inside Alpharetta.
What to do now
- Isolate the leak. Close the fixture stop or the building main. Fulton County is responsible for the line from the main to the meter; from the meter in, it's the owner's.
- Call the county for public-side problems. North Fulton drinking water emergencies go to 770-640-3040; sewer emergencies to 404-612-3061.
- Protect equipment. Server rooms, kitchens and retail stock come first.
- Tell building management. Office towers and mixed-use buildings usually control shared risers and the main drain.
- Know your hours. Note when the space can go without water.
Symptoms and likely causes
| What you notice | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Ceiling stain under a break room | Leaking supply line, ice maker or dishwasher |
| Restaurant drain gurgling at peak hours | Grease narrowing the building drain |
| Restroom flush valves that won't shut off | Worn diaphragms or failed valves |
| Hot water dropping off by afternoon | Heater undersized or 25-plus years old |
| Fulton County backflow test reminder | Annual test due on a testable device |
Cost factors
- The age of the equipment; about 57% of Alpharetta's homes were built from 1980 to 1999, and many commercial buildings from that era still have original heaters and valves
- How many fixtures or tenants are on the affected line
- Diagnostic work before the repair
- Evening or weekend scheduling
- Permits through the city's Building/Trade/Tree portal, with inspections requested through the Inspections Division at 678-297-6080
- Repairs after a failed backflow test, reported through SwiftComply
What happens when you call
You'll be connected with an independent local plumber who takes commercial work in Alpharetta. Tell them what kind of space it is, whether it is a single-tenant building or a suite in a larger property, which fixtures are affected and when the work can happen. Office tenants in particular should check the lease first: in many Alpharetta office parks the landlord's building engineer controls the risers, the water heater room and the main shutoff, and will want to approve or attend any work. A restaurant should mention whether the kitchen drains through a grease interceptor, since that changes the equipment a plumber brings. If the call is about a backflow test, have the assembly's location and any previous test report handy so the tester can file the new result with Fulton County without delay.
Commercial Plumbing questions in Alpharetta
Who tests a commercial backflow assembly, and how often?
Where does the utility's part of the water line end?
Does a fire sprinkler line need its own backflow protection?
How is a commercial water heater job different from a home one?
More plumbing services in Alpharetta
Commercial Plumbing nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
- Fulton County Water Services: Backflow Prevention
- Fulton County Public Works: Water and Sewer Service Laterals
- Fulton County Water Services: Emergency Repairs
- Fulton County Water Services: Start Your Water Service
- City of Alpharetta: Building and Construction Permits
- City of Alpharetta: How Do I
- Alpharetta housing by year built (ACS 2019-2023, via Point2Homes)
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