Backflow Testing and Prevention
Backflow Testing for Non Residential Accounts
CCWA strives to provide a safe, clean water supply to our customers at all times. Our Backflow Prevention program includes the installation of backflow devices at all customer connections.
Unlike most water utilities, CCWA has accepted the responsibility to test and repair all backflow devices annually by our State Certified Backflow Specialists rather than require customers to own and maintain the device. In almost all other counties in Georgia, the property owner is required to do the testing and repair at his/her expense. This can be a very significant cost. We believe we can provide this service in an efficient manner for our commercial customers.
To achieve regulatory compliance, CCWA must test and repair approximately 5,000 backflow devices on all commercial and industrial accounts annually and report compliance data to the State of Georgia.
A monthly fee is charged to each non-residential account per service connection, to cover the cost of testing and any repairs to the backflow device.
The following monthly fees, based upon water meter size, are added to the monthly statement of non-residential customers accounts, effective July 1, 2012:
- $10.00 per month for 5/8 and ¾ inch meter accounts
- $15.00 per month for 1 and 1.5 inch meter accounts
- $20.00 per month for 2 inch and larger meter accounts
If you have any questions, please contact CCWA’s Call Center at 770.960.5200.
What is backflow?
CCWA’s Backflow Prevention program was implemented to insure the safety of our water supply. Backflow devices were installed by our staff at all customer connections.This device is used to prevent the unintentional backflow of potentially contaminated water from a customers’ side back into our public water supply. Backflow and the
resulting drinking water system contamination could occur when we experience significant pressure drops in our system due to fire fighting events, water pipeline breaks, customer owned water booster pumps failure and many other events.
Why is testing needed?
Backflow prevention is required by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and the State of Georgia has adopted these federal standards (Georgia Environmental Protection Division –Section 391-3-5-.13 “Cross Connections”). These standards regulate the public health aspects of the supply of drinking water “to protect the health, safety, or
welfare of the users of water”. These regulations also state that the local utility (Clayton
County Water Authority) is responsible for preventing contaminated water from entering its public water system.
When will CCWA test the backflow device at my business?
We will be testing each device annually. We are developing a schedule based on the Water Authority’s meter reading
cycles.