Winston is unincorporated Douglas County, served by the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority. WSA requires backflow devices to be tested every year by a certified tester from its list, with results sent to the authority, and it can suspend service if reports are missing. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Winston.
Winston and WSA
Winston is a small unincorporated community in western Douglas County along I-20, between Douglasville and Villa Rica. It was once a chartered town, but the charter was repealed in 1995, so county agencies handle everything. Water comes from WSA, which describes itself as Douglas County's sole water provider. How many Winston homes are on private wells instead hasn't been verified; if yours is one of them, WSA's program doesn't apply to you.
For WSA customers, the rules are clear. Customers install and maintain backflow protection at their own expense, while WSA supplies the device for residential installations. Each device must be tested every year by a certified tester picked from WSA's list, and results go to the authority. Service can be suspended if reports aren't provided. WSA owns the meter and the lines in the road right-of-way; the homeowner owns the water and sewer lines from the meter to the house.
What to do now
- Confirm you're on WSA water. Your bill will say. Homes on a private well follow different rules.
- Find the device. Look near the meter or irrigation tap and write down what's on its tag.
- Book a tester from WSA's list. Only certified testers on that list count.
- Make sure the result reaches WSA. Ask the tester to confirm the report was submitted.
- Fix a failure fast. With suspension on the table, don't leave a failed device waiting.
- Get a county permit for irrigation. Douglas County Building Permits & Inspections requires plumbing permits for new or renovation work, and names lawn irrigation systems specifically.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Drip at the device | Worn seal or check |
| Relief port spitting water | Debris or a pressure swing |
| Split body | Freeze damage |
| Weak sprinkler zones | Valve left partly closed |
| Soft ground between meter and house | Leak on the homeowner's line |
Cost factors
- A routine pass or a repair and retest
- Assembly type and size
- Replacement after a freeze
- Long runs and access on larger rural-edge lots
- County permit steps for new irrigation
When you call, ask whether the plumber is on WSA's tester list so the test and the report can be handled together.
Backflow Testing questions in Winston
Who is allowed to test my backflow assembly?
Do I need a permit to install or move a backflow assembly?
What happens if my assembly fails its test?
Is the backflow assembly mine or the utility's?
More plumbing services in Winston
Backflow Testing nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
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