Inside city limits, Buford's own Water Department supplies water, and we didn't find a published backflow testing program for its customers. Buford-mailing addresses outside the city may be on Gwinnett County water instead, which has its own backflow staff. Ask the utility on your bill what it requires. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Buford.
What happens when you call
You'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in the Buford area. Tell them whether you're inside city limits or on a Buford-mailing address in unincorporated Gwinnett, what the device protects, and whether a utility has asked for a test. The plumber can identify the device, check it and recommend a rebuild or replacement. A worn check or seal can usually be rebuilt, while a body cracked by a freeze means a new unit.
What affects the cost
- Testing or inspecting an existing device, or installing a new one
- Device type and size
- Rebuild kit versus full replacement
- Access around the meter or landscaping
- Permit and inspection steps, which differ inside and outside city limits
Buford's utilities and backflow
Buford is one of the few cities in Gwinnett that runs its own utilities: water, sewer and natural gas. Its water comes from Lake Lanier, treated at the city's membrane ultrafiltration plant, and the city buys a small share from Gwinnett County. Because Buford owns its system, the city's rules decide whether a city customer needs backflow protection.
We looked for a published backflow testing program for Buford water customers and didn't find one, so we can't give you a test interval or tester list. Call the Water Department and ask whether your connection is covered. Irrigation systems and businesses are the connections utilities most often want protected, and Buford has plenty of both, from newer subdivisions to the shops and restaurants around the Mall of Georgia.
The picture changes outside city limits. Buford-mailing addresses in the 30518 and 30519 ZIPs may be served by Gwinnett County DWR instead, which runs its own backflow program. Service by address wasn't verified, so check your bill before booking anything.
Permits follow the same split. Inside the city, Buford's Inspection Department handles plumbing work under the city's building-codes ordinance. Unincorporated Buford-mailing addresses go to Gwinnett County Planning & Development.
Checklist before the visit
- Confirm from your bill whether Buford or Gwinnett supplies your water
- Ask that utility whether a device and testing are required
- Find the device and note its tag
- Close the irrigation valve if it's leaking
- Gather any past test reports or letters from the utility
Backflow Testing questions in Buford
How do I find out which utility serves my address?
My water utility has never sent me a backflow notice. Am I covered?
Do I need a permit to install or move a backflow assembly?
What is a sewer backflow preventer, and is it the same thing?
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