Plumbers in Greenbelt, MD

The first Greenbelt Town

Greenbelt was built by the federal government as a cooperative community and incorporated on June 1, 1937, the first and largest of the three Greenbelt Towns. Its Art Deco core around Roosevelt Center forms Old Greenbelt, a National Historic Landmark district. Greenbelt East, Greenbelt West, Springhill Lake and Lakeside fill out the city, with NASA Goddard and the Greenbelt Metro terminus close by. The city is about 9 miles from downtown Washington in a straight line, reached by Greenbelt Road (MD 193), Kenilworth Avenue (MD 201), the Capital Beltway and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.

Plumbing that spans four decades

The median Greenbelt home dates to about 1976, and housing runs from 1930s originals to 1970s apartments and townhouses. In the older stock, expect galvanized and early copper supply lines, cast iron drains and fixtures with hard-to-find parts. Shared walls in townhouses and co-ops mean a leak can reach a neighbor quickly, so knowing where your shutoff valve is matters.

Water, hardness and sewer

WSSC Water supplies water and sewer service. The City sends residents to WSSC's Emergency Service Center, 301-206-4002, for water and sewer emergencies at any hour. WSSC uses chlorine rather than chloramine as its disinfectant and adds fluoride.

Hardness depends on which WSSC plant serves your address. WSSC's tap analysis shows water from its Potomac plant averaging 140 mg/L of hardness and water from its Patuxent plant averaging 64 mg/L. The Potomac figure is moderately hard to hard, enough to leave scale in tankless heaters and on fixtures; the Patuxent figure is much softer. Ask WSSC which plant feeds your area before buying a softener.

Two permit layers

Most plumbing work, including water and sewer service line repairs and replacements, must be done by a plumber or gasfitter holding a WSSC Water license, under a WSSC permit (Permit Services 301-206-4003). On top of that, any project that needs a Prince George's County building permit must also be permitted by the City of Greenbelt (City permits 301-345-5417). A plumber familiar with Greenbelt will know when the city step applies.

Service lines and backflow

Part of each water service line belongs to WSSC and part to the customer, and WSSC asks owners to notify it before replacing their portion. Its "What's Your Pipe Type?" program inventories line materials on both sides and verifies lines listed as lead, unknown or galvanized. Testable backflow assemblies need a yearly test by a WSSC-certified cross-connection technician; lawn irrigation devices are tested at spring start-up, and homes built from 2007 to 2009 with testable dual checks on fire sprinklers must test or replace them.

Gas safety

Washington Gas serves Greenbelt. If you smell gas, leave the building first, then call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1.

Calling for help

Inside the District, DC Water and the Department of Buildings cover everything. In Greenbelt, WSSC and the City share the paperwork. Tell us your section of town and what is wrong, and you will be connected with an independent plumber who sets the price and timing with you.