Backflow Testing in Gainesville, VA

Local conditions in Gainesville

Gainesville was a railroad and farm crossroads at I-66 and U.S. 29 before it grew quickly from the mid-1990s into subdivisions and big shopping centers. The housing is very new: only about 4 percent of homes in ZIP 20155 were built before 1980, and the 2000s were the busiest building decade. Sprinkler systems are common on those lots, and many backflow devices installed with the houses are now old enough for their rubber parts to give out.

Prince William Water supplies the area. It buys most of its water from Fairfax Water, drawing on the Occoquan Reservoir and the Potomac River, and some western-county customers receive water treated at the City of Manassas plant. Its East and West systems run moderately hard, 3.5 to 7.0 grains per gallon. Prince William Water owns the meter, and lines and connections on private property, including any backflow assembly, are the owner's. Its backflow page is aimed mostly at commercial customers, so homeowners should call the Cross Connection Coordinator at (703) 335-8947 to confirm whether a sprinkler device is on file. Permits for new work come from Prince William County Development Services.

Which device fits which job?

Signs to look for

• A recertification notice from Prince William Water
• Water running from the device during watering
• A builder-installed device with no test history
• Crushed or bent piping after yard work near the house
• Freeze cracks after a cold snap

Seasonal timing

Gainesville's summers mean long irrigation seasons, and its winters bring freezing nights. Close the irrigation supply and drain the device each fall, then have it tested when the system is turned on in spring, before the heavy watering months. If a test fails, schedule the repair promptly so the device is not left unprotected through the summer.