Backflow Testing in Haymarket, VA

How often does a Haymarket backflow device get tested?

Prince William Water runs a cross-connection control program to keep the distribution system safe. Its backflow page says owners of testable devices have them tested by a certified backflow testing company when installed or repaired and once a year after that, with results sent to the Cross Connection Coordinator, and the utility sends annual recertification notices. The page is written mainly with commercial customers in mind, so if you have a sprinkler or pool assembly at home, call the coordinator at (703) 335-8947 to ask whether it is on file and when the next test is due.

What permits does a new or moved assembly need?

Since January 2018, all building permits in the Town of Haymarket, including plumbing, have been issued by Prince William County Development Services. Before the County will take the application, the project needs Zoning Approval from the Town; Town Hall is at 703-753-2600. A plumber replacing a cracked assembly or adding protection for a new pool should plan for both steps. Homes in the wider 20169 postal area outside town limits skip the Town step and go straight to the County.

My house is newer. Why would the device need work?

Haymarket's 1880s crossroads core is small, and most homes around it are newer, with a median year built of 1997. Many sprinkler systems were installed with those houses, which makes their assemblies a couple of decades old. Rubber discs harden, springs weaken, and a single winter with water left inside can crack a brass body. Prince William Water's West System, which blends Potomac River water treated by Fairfax Water with Lake Manassas water treated by the City of Manassas, serves much of the western county, and over time mineral deposits also wear check seats.

A short local note

Haymarket sits at the base of the Bull Run Mountains, and winter nights here can be colder than closer to Washington. Drain outdoor devices before the first hard freeze, and schedule the yearly test for the spring start-up. Prince William Water's emergency dispatch line, (703) 335-7990, is for main breaks and outages on its side, not for a leaking device on yours.