Helpful Resources and Education

What Is Backflow?
‍Water systems are designed to allow water to flow in only one direction, ensuring a clean and safe supply. However, sometimes unexpected events, like a drop in pressure or a break in a water line, can cause the water to flow in the opposite direction. When this happens, it can draw contaminants and other harmful substances into our water supply. This reversal of flow is known as backflow, or back-siphoning.

Backflow is a serious concern because it can introduce pollutants and contaminants into our public water system, making the drinking water unsafe. Ensuring that our water remains safe under all conditions is a key responsibility of the Spalding County Water Authority, and we take it very seriously.

What Is a Cross Connection?
‍A cross connection occurs when there is a potential point in our water system where contaminants could enter the drinking water supply. Every customer's connection to our public water system could be a potential cross connection and must be properly protected to prevent backflow into our system.
‍
To safeguard against this risk, appropriate backflow prevention devices are installed and maintained at these connections. These devices are essential for preventing contamination and ensuring that our public water system remains safe and clean for everyone. By understanding and addressing both backflow and cross connections, we can continue to provide safe drinking water to our community.If you have any questions regarding backflow and cross connections, please call 770-467-4777 between the hours of 8:00AM and 5:00PM, Monday through Friday.

TOOLS NEEDED

• Screwdriver
• Crescent Wrench
• Curb Stop Key (also known as a T-handle or T-bar), if available

DIRECTIONS

• Locate Your Water Meter: The meter is usually near the street, covered by a rectangle-shaped metal or plastic lid.
• Remove the Lid: Use a standard screwdriver to help lift the lid off the meter box.
• Find the Shut-Off Valve: On the street side of the meter, look for an oblong knob—this is the main shut-off valve, also called the angle stop.
• Identify the Angle Stop: The angle stop has two loops on either side, with an arrow in the middle showing the direction of water flow.

TURN OFF THE WATER
‍Place the curb stop key over the center of the angle stop. If you don’t have a curb stop key, you can improvise with a crescent wrench and screwdriver: Turn the curb stop key or your makeshift handle clockwise until both loops align, about 180 degrees.

• Position the jaws of the crescent wrench over the angle stop with the handle pointing upwards.
• Insert a screwdriver through the hole in the wrench handle to create a makeshift tee handle.
• Turn the curb stop key or your makeshift handle clockwise until both loops align, about 180 degrees.

Important: If the angle stop hasn’t been used in a long time, it might be difficult to turn. DO NOT FORCE IT. If it won’t turn with reasonable pressure, contact SCWA at 770-467-4777.

The International Building Code specifies that water pressure shall be no greater than 80 psi, and if so, an approved pressure-reducing valve conforming to ASSE 1003 or SCA B356 shall be installed on the domestic water branch or riser at the connection to the water service pipe.
‍
If you are experiencing any of the issues below, you may want to have a plumber check your PRV.
- Hammering or vibrating pipes
- Higher than normal water pressure
- Diminishing water pressure
- Plumbing leaks

Unauthorized Water Use
‍All water used must flow through an SCWA-authorized water meter connected to an active, up-to-date account. It is strictly illegal to tap, divert, steal, or use water from any fire line, fire hydrant, water main, or other SCWA equipment or lines without first establishing a water account with a corresponding authorized meter. Any withdrawal of water from SCWA hydrants or other non-standard access points—except for firefighting by fire department personnel or official use by SCWA staff—must be done using a hydrant meter provided by SCWA.

‍Outdoor Water Use
‍Outdoor watering for planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants is allowed daily, except during the mid-day hours between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
The following outdoor water uses are permitted daily, at any time:

• Commercial agricultural operations as defined in Code Section 1-3-3.
• Capture and reuse of cooling system condensate or stormwater, in compliance with local ordinances and state guidelines.
• Reuse of gray water, in accordance with Code Section 31-3-5.2 and applicable local health regulations.
• Use of reclaimed wastewater by a designated user from a system permitted by the Environmental Protection Division.
• Irrigation of personal food gardens.
• Irrigation of newly planted or replanted landscaping, golf courses, or sports turf fields, allowed during installation and for 30 days following.
• Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses.
• Hand watering with a hose equipped with an automatic cutoff or handheld container.
• Use of water from private wells or surface water on the owner’s property.
• Irrigation of horticultural crops held for sale, resale, or installation.
• Irrigation of athletic fields, golf courses, or public recreational turf areas.
• Installation, maintenance, or calibration of irrigation systems.
• Hydroseeding

Consider the following winterization tips to protect your water lines, exposed pipes, valves, and irrigation systems from freezing, potential water leaks, or pipe bursts:

• Insulate pipes, either with wraps or tapes, making sure to locate all pipes that pass through unheated spaces or areas exposed to the outdoors.

Using wraps  to insulate pipes can help prevent them from freezing and bursting during the winter. Such water leaks can cost a lot of money for utility customers.

• Consider adding or supplementing insulation to water heaters.
• Drain irrigation systems, since the tips of sprinkler heads and portions of sprinkler systems often continue to hold water, even when inactive.
• Disconnect garden hoses from all outdoor water faucets, allowing water to drain completely, and store them in a place with consistent (warmer) temperatures.
• If a faucet is not frost-free, find the shut-off valve where the pipe feeds the faucet outside of the home or building and turn it off, prior to opening the outside faucet until it drains completely.
• Winterize air conditioning units as well, by draining all air conditioner pipes and hoses.
• Remove window air conditioning units and insulate those areas accordingly.
• Clean gutters, so winter rains and melting snow can drain.
• When leaving the home or office for an extended period of time, turn the temperature down to 55 degrees – rather than turning the heat completely off – to prevent problems from freezing temperatures.

Should a pipe burst due to freezing or under any other circumstances, always know how to turn off water at the main meter servicing the home or office building.

Why Does SCWA Clean Sewer Lines?
Fats, oils, and grease can build up on the walls and ceilings of sewer pipes, restricting flow and potentially causing sewage backups in homes and SCWA sewer manholes. To prevent these issues, SCWA regularly cleans sewer mains using high-pressure water nozzles.

To inform residents, signs will be placed at all entrances to your subdivision at least 24 hours in advance of scheduled sewer line cleaning.

Since the high-pressure cleaning can cause water to be displaced from toilets, SCWA recommends closing your toilet seats during this process to prevent any mess in your bathrooms.

Why Do We Smoke Test Our Sewer Lines?
‍Smoke testing is a crucial method used by SCWA to identify areas in our sewer lines that require repairs or upgrades.During the process, a section of the sewer line is temporarily blocked off, and a blower pumps "smoke" into a manhole. Our crews then monitor for smoke escaping from the ground, buildings, manholes, and sewer clean-outs. Areas needing further inspection or repair are flagged by the crew.If the sewer line is in good condition, the smoke should only exit through sewer vent pipes. Any necessary repairs to internal home plumbing are up to the homeowner.

‍Is the Smoke Harmful to People, Pets, or Plants?
‍No. The "smoke" is actually a fruit-scented mist, specifically designed for this purpose. It is non-toxic, non-staining, and poses no fire hazard.

‍What Should I Expect During the Smoke Test?
‍If your plumbing is in good condition, you shouldn’t have any smoke enter your home. However, SCWA recommends running water in all your traps for 30 seconds before the test. Unused traps can sometimes allow smoke to enter, but it should clear within a few minutes. If smoke does enter your home, simply open your doors and windows to ventilate, and notify the crews on site or call 770-467-4777.

‍Does SCWA Notify Residents Before Conducting a Smoke Test?
‍Yes, signs will be placed at the entrance of your subdivision or neighborhood at least 24 hours in advance, indicating the dates when smoke testing will take place.