Plumbers in Clarkston, GA

The 1970s are everywhere here

More than half of Clarkston's homes were built before 1980, and about 31% went up in the 1970s alone. Much of the city's housing is apartments and single-family homes from the 1970s and 1980s. Plumbing from that era is now well past middle age: copper and galvanized supply lines with pinholes or heavy buildup, original shutoff valves that no longer close, cast iron drain stacks and older sewer laterals that crack or take in roots. Low pressure at one fixture, rusty water after the water has sat, and recurring backups in the lowest drain are all common reasons people call.

A small city inside the Perimeter's shadow

Clarkston was incorporated as a town in 1882 and sits just outside I-285 in DeKalb County, about 10 miles from downtown Atlanta. It had 14,756 residents in 2020 and has long been a refugee resettlement center, often called the most diverse square mile in America. Georgia State University's Perimeter College has a campus here, and city offices are on Park North Boulevard.

DeKalb County runs water and sewer

The city states plainly that its water and sewer are managed by DeKalb County. Drinking water is drawn from the Chattahoochee River and treated at DeKalb's Scott Candler plant; DeKalb's annual water quality report has the test data. Sewage problems and missing manhole lids go to DeKalb County Water and Sewer at 770-621-7200, and DeKalb's 24-hour emergency repair line is 770-270-6243. The city itself only handles storm drains.

DeKalb owns the service line from the main up to and including the meter. From the meter to the house is the owner's responsibility, which is why a leak in the yard on the house side is a plumbing repair. Apartment complexes and commercial buildings fall under DeKalb's backflow program, which requires assemblies on the customer side of the meter and an annual test by a certified tester.

Permits from Clarkston Planning & Development

The city requires a trade permit to replace a water heater, add new plumbing, or do fixture work that alters piping. Applications go through the city's SagesGov portal, and the office is at 736 Park North Blvd., Suite 120 (404-296-6489).

Gas, and how it differs from Atlanta

Atlanta Gas Light is the expected pipe utility. If you smell gas, leave the building first, then call 911 and AGL at 877.427.4321. Compared with Atlanta proper, Clarkston swaps the city's Watershed Management department for DeKalb's and the Office of Buildings for its own permit desk. When you call, describe the problem and whether it is a house or apartment; you will be connected with an independent plumber who serves Clarkston, and price and timing are agreed with them.