Backflow Testing in Johns Creek, GA

Why does my Johns Creek home have a backflow device at all?

The City of Johns Creek doesn't run water or sewer. Fulton County Water Services supplies the city, and its Backflow Prevention program asks customers to install approved devices matched to the hazard on each connection. For a typical house, that hazard is the lawn irrigation system. Most homes here date from the 1980s and 1990s subdivisions along Medlock Bridge, State Bridge and McGinnis Ferry roads, and many came with in-ground sprinklers from the builder. A buried sprinkler line can siphon fertilizer and yard runoff back toward the main if pressure drops, and the device is what stops it.

How often, and who does the test?

Every year. Fulton County requires testable devices to be tested annually by a certified tester, and repaired when they don't pass. The tester sends results to the county through SwiftComply. Questions about your account go to the county's backflow coordinator office at 404-612-4226. The device is on your side of the meter, and Fulton County's flyer makes the owner responsible for the line from the meter to the house, so testing and repair costs are yours.

What should I do if the test fails or the device leaks?

A failed result usually means a worn check valve, a fouled seat or a tired spring. Many assemblies can be rebuilt with a parts kit and then retested. A body cracked by a freeze typically means replacing the whole unit. Moving or adding an assembly is plumbing work, and Johns Creek requires a Trade Permit for plumbing, filed through the city's Customer Self-Service portal. If water is spraying, close the irrigation shutoff, which is usually just upstream of the device.

A local note

Johns Creek runs along the Chattahoochee, and lots near Autrey Mill or the river can hold low, shaded spots where an exposed assembly freezes first. Wrap above-ground devices before a hard freeze, and drain the sprinkler side once the watering season ends. When you call, have the assembly's brand and size handy so the plumber can bring the right repair kit, and mention whether it sits above ground or in a box.