Businesses inside the City of Alexandria get water from Virginia American Water and sewer collection from the City, with treatment at AlexRenew, and the City's Code Administration issues plumbing and fuel gas permits. Old building stock in Old Town and hard-working kitchens along King Street keep commercial plumbers busy. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Alexandria.
How Alexandria's utilities shape commercial jobs
Inside city limits, Virginia American Water delivers the water, buying it already treated from Fairfax Water's Potomac River and Occoquan Reservoir plants. The utility's annual report gives total hardness between 78 and 191 ppm, which is why storage water heaters, coffee equipment and ice machines in busy restaurants build scale. Disinfection is chloramine, with a temporary change to free chlorine during spring flushing (April to June) that some customers notice as a chlorine taste. Customer service for the water side is 1-800-452-6863.
The City owns and maintains the sanitary sewers and the City-owned parts of laterals, and AlexRenew treats the wastewater. Part of Old Town sits on a combined sewer system, so heavy storms matter more there than in newer parts of the city. Permits come from the Department of Code Administration's Permit Center, which handles construction permits and commercial fuel gas permits through the APEX online system. Many addresses that say Alexandria, including ZIPs 22303, 22306 through 22312 and 22315, are actually unincorporated Fairfax County: those buildings are usually on Fairfax Water and get permits from Fairfax County instead.
Gas is Washington Gas. A gas smell means everyone leaves the building first, then someone calls 911 and 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside.
Repair or bigger project?
| Problem | Usually a repair | Usually a larger job |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen line backing up | Grease plug cleared by cleaning or jetting | Collapsed or sagging pipe found on camera |
| Commercial water heater | Thermostat, element or valve on a younger unit | Leaking tank or demand the unit can't meet |
| Restroom fixtures | Flush valve rebuild or sensor fix | Cracked fixtures or a layout change during a remodel |
| Old supply piping | A single leaking section | Repeated leaks in aging pipe across a building |
Signs worth a call
- Sewer odor in a basement or back hallway of an Old Town building
- Drains that slow down after heavy rain
- Lukewarm water by mid-afternoon in a salon or restaurant
- Damp walls behind restroom fixtures
Timing and seasonal notes
The median home in the city was built in 1974, and Old Town's core is far older, so original drain lines and supply piping are common in mixed-use and residential rental buildings. Cold snaps expose pipes in exterior walls and unheated back rooms, and summer storms test basements and floor drains. Scheduling larger work between lease terms or in a slow season keeps it off your busiest days.
Commercial Plumbing questions in Alexandria
How do we confirm which utility provides our building's water and sewer?
Does a local mailing address mean the town or the county handles our permits?
Should owners of older buildings check what their service line is made of?
How can a restaurant keep grease from clogging its lines?
More plumbing services in Alexandria
Commercial Plumbing nearby
Sources
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