Plumbers in Fort Washington, MD

Rural until about 1960

Fort Washington stretches along the Potomac in southern Prince George's County, about 11 miles from downtown Washington in a straight line. It stayed rural until about 1960 and is now a suburb of riverfront homes, marinas and subdivisions such as Tantallon and Fort Washington Forest, with Fort Washington Park and Harmony Hall Regional Center as landmarks. Maryland Route 210, Livingston Road and Old Fort Road are the main routes. There is no town government; Prince George's County handles building permits.

Homes from the suburban era

The median house here was built around 1980. Many Fort Washington homes are now old enough for a second water heater, a first sewer lateral repair, or replacement of original copper and plastic fittings. On a deep lot, the water and sewer lines between the house and the street can be long, which matters when one leaks or clogs out in the yard.

WSSC water and sewer

WSSC Water provides water and sewer service across Prince George's County, including Fort Washington. Water comes from the Potomac River and from the Patuxent River reservoirs, Triadelphia and T. Howard Duckett. WSSC maintains a chlorine residual for disinfection and adds orthophosphate as a corrosion inhibitor, which coats pipe interiors, including household plumbing. Its report does not give a hardness number for your tap. WSSC says it has removed all known lead pipes from its distribution system and keeps a service line material map at wsscwater.com/LCR-map; questions go to [email protected].

For a main break or sewer overflow, call WSSC at 301-206-4002. Customer service is 301-206-4001.

Backflow on irrigation and boilers

If your yard has an in-ground irrigation system, WSSC's cross-connection program covers it. Testable assemblies, such as irrigation pressure vacuum breakers and reduced pressure zone devices, must be tested every year and after installation, repair or relocation by a WSSC-certified cross-connection technician. Non-testable dual checks and boiler devices must be rebuilt or replaced every five years, and those are the only backflow devices a homeowner may rebuild or replace. Program support is at 301-206-4004.

Permits

Prince George's County DPIE issues no plumbing permits; WSSC Water Permit Services does (301-206-4003, through WSSC ePermitting). Most plumbing and all gas work, including furnace, gas water heater and gas appliance replacements, must be done by a plumber or gasfitter holding a WSSC license.

Gas

Washington Gas serves Prince George's County, and BGE serves parts of it. If you smell gas, leave the house first, then call 911 and the Washington Gas Emergency Leak Line, 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1. If your bill comes from BGE, call 911 and BGE instead.

How it differs from the District

Across the river and up the road in Washington, DC Water and the DC Department of Buildings split the work. Here WSSC is utility and plumbing permit office in one. When you call, give your street and describe what you see, and you will be connected with an independent plumber who sets the price and timing with you.