Backflow Testing in Union City, GA

Who sets the backflow rules in Union City?

The City of Union City does. It maintains its own water distribution system and buys treated water from the City of Atlanta, delivered through ten master meters. Because the city owns the pipes your service connects to, its Water & Sewer Division, part of Public Services, is the agency that administers backflow prevention and cross-connection control here. Atlanta's own backflow program doesn't apply to Union City accounts.

What isn't spelled out, and how do I find out?

The city's page confirms the program exists but doesn't list a testing interval, tester qualifications or how reports are filed. Rather than guess, call the Water & Sewer Division before scheduling anything and ask three questions: whether your property needs a device, how often it must be tested, and whether the city keeps a list of accepted testers. A plumber who does backflow work can also tell you what device a given connection typically calls for, such as a double check valve for plain lawn irrigation or a reduced pressure assembly for higher hazards, but the city's answer is the one that counts.

Which homes are most likely to be affected?

Union City grew into a suburban bedroom community for metro Atlanta workers, and its median home dates to 2002. Newer subdivisions off South Fulton Parkway and Shannon Parkway are more likely to have in-ground irrigation, which is the most common reason a house needs a backflow device anywhere. Businesses along Jonesboro Road and Roosevelt Highway are more likely to be covered by a commercial requirement. If a device is ever installed, it belongs to the owner: the city's utility FAQ says Public Works cannot work on private plumbing past the meter.

One local note

Installing a new assembly or adding irrigation piping is plumbing work, and Union City's Building Permits Division takes plumbing permit applications through the city's iWorQ portal. If the city sends you a backflow letter, keep it handy when you call so the plumber can see exactly what was requested. Have the device's brand, size and location ready too, and if it is leaking, close the irrigation shutoff until a plumber can look at it.