In Alexandria, backflow rules come from your water provider: Virginia American Water inside the city, and usually Fairfax Water for Alexandria-addressed homes in unincorporated Fairfax County, where yearly testing of irrigation assemblies is required. For a test, a leaking device or a new install, call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Alexandria.
Local conditions in Alexandria
The name on the envelope does not settle much here. The independent City of Alexandria gets its water from Virginia American Water, which buys treated water from Fairfax Water's Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir plants. But many Alexandria mailing addresses, including ZIPs 22303, 22306 through 22312 and 22315, sit in unincorporated Fairfax County and are generally served by Fairfax Water directly. Check the name on your water bill before assuming which rules apply.
For Fairfax Water customers, Fairfax County's cross-connection program requires testable assemblies, including those on lawn irrigation, to be tested when installed, after repairs and at least once a year by a certified tester on the County's authorized list. Inside the city, ask Virginia American Water customer service (1-800-452-6863) how it handles backflow devices at homes and businesses.
Alexandria also has a second kind of backflow device people ask about. Older parts of the city, including a combined sewer area in Old Town, can see sewer backups in heavy storms, and the City offers homeowners a reimbursement for backflow preventers installed on their sewer laterals. That valve keeps sewage out of a basement; it is separate from the assembly that protects drinking water.
| Your situation | Where the rules come from |
|---|---|
| City address, Virginia American Water bill | Virginia American Water; permits from City Code Administration |
| Alexandria mailing address in Fairfax County, Fairfax Water bill | Fairfax County and Fairfax Water cross-connection program; permits from Fairfax County |
| Basement sewer backup worries | City sewer lateral backflow preventer reimbursement |
Signs it is time to call
- A test notice arrived for an irrigation or commercial assembly
- Water runs from the relief valve or a test cock while sprinklers operate
- You bought a house in Del Ray or Rosemont with a sprinkler system and no test records
- A restaurant or shop on King Street is adding equipment tied to the water supply
- Sewage has come up through a basement floor drain during a storm
Timing and season
Book a test soon after a notice arrives, since a failed device means parts and a retest. Hardness in the city's water is reported between 78 and 191 ppm, so check seats can gather scale over years. Before the first freezing night, shut and drain outdoor irrigation devices; in spring, have the plumber open the system and confirm the assembly holds.
Backflow Testing questions in Alexandria
How can I tell which water utility serves my address?
Is a sewer backflow preventer the same thing as a water backflow assembly?
Is a permit needed to install or replace a backflow preventer?
What happens if the assembly fails its test?
More plumbing services in Alexandria
Backflow Testing nearby
Sources
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