Commercial Plumbing in Douglasville, GA

Who sets the backflow rules for a Douglasville business?

The Water and Sewer Authority, known as WSA. The city doesn't run water or sewer; WSA was created in 1985 after buying the city's and county's systems and calls itself Douglas County's sole water provider. WSA customers must install and maintain backflow protection at their own expense. Devices must be tested every year by a certified tester chosen from WSA's list, with results submitted to WSA, and the authority can suspend service if test reports aren't provided. That makes the yearly test a real deadline for restaurants, medical offices and anything with irrigation along Douglas Boulevard and around Arbor Place.

Which pipes does the business own?

WSA owns the meter and the lines in the road right-of-way. The customer is responsible for the water and sewer lines on the property from the meter up to the building. Business-hours problems go to WSA at 770-949-7617; after-hours emergencies to 770-942-6633.

Which gas utility do we call about a leak?

Douglasville is split between gas utilities. Austell Gas System customers call 770-948-1841, option 1, or 911. If the address is on Atlanta Gas Light instead, AGL's leak line is 877.427.4321. Either way, get everyone out of the building first and call from outside. The gas bill shows which utility serves the building.

A short local note

Douglasville is the Douglas County seat, with a National Register historic downtown around O'Neal Plaza and mostly 1990s and 2000s growth along I-20; the median home dates to 2001. Plumbing permits come from the City of Douglasville's Community Development Building Division at City Hall on Spring Street, 678-449-3230, through the BS&A online portal, and water heater replacements are among the permitted jobs. Addresses outside city limits use Douglas County's permit office instead.

When you call, you'll be connected with an independent local plumber who does commercial work in Douglasville. Describe the business, which fixtures are affected and when the space can be closed. Restaurants and shops around Arbor Place are busiest on weekends, so weekday mornings are often easiest for drain or heater work. Have your last WSA backflow report handy if the call is about a test, and tell the plumber whether you lease, since owners usually handle the line from the WSA meter and the building sewer while tenants handle the fixtures in their space. If a test fails, the device has to be repaired and retested before the report goes to WSA, so leave a little time before your due date.