Backflow Testing in Brookhaven, GA

Does a Brookhaven home really need a backflow assembly?

If it has a separate irrigation tap, yes. The City of Brookhaven doesn't run water or sewer. DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management owns the mains, laterals, valves, hydrants and meters here, and the city can't maintain or repair them. DeKalb's backflow program requires assemblies at all commercial properties, from churches and schools to businesses, and on irrigation systems, specifically including residential properties with a separate irrigation tap. Houses without irrigation generally fall outside the residential requirement.

Who can test it, and where does the report go?

Testing is required annually under state law, and the certified inspection report goes to DeKalb. DeKalb doesn't keep its own approved-tester list. Instead, a tester has to hold a state license or be accredited by a recognized third party, such as GAWP's GBPAT program, ASSE, ABPA or UF TREEO. Questions can go to [email protected] or 404-687-4075. The assembly sits past the meter, and DeKalb's service line guidance puts the homeowner in charge from the meter to the house, so the test and any repairs are your responsibility.

What if my assembly is old, leaking or failed?

Brookhaven's housing runs from older homes in Historic Brookhaven and Lynwood Park to newer townhomes near Town Brookhaven, with about 30% built before 1980. Irrigation on older lots was usually added later, and the assembly that came with it may now be near the end of its parts life. A failed test usually calls for a rebuild of the checks and seals followed by a retest. A cracked body or a model without available parts means replacement. Brookhaven requires a city permit for construction work, and new or relocated assemblies run through the city's online permit portal.

A local note

Many Brookhaven lots near Murphey Candler Park and along North Druid Hills Road are shaded and slope toward the street, and low spots there can hold cold air. If your assembly sits above ground, insulate it before the first hard freeze and drain the irrigation side for winter. A quick look in fall can save a replacement in spring. When you call, mention whether the assembly sits on its own irrigation meter so the plumber knows what to expect.