Hydro Jetting in Rockville, MD

Who do I call first when sewage backs up in Rockville?

That depends on your address. Rockville is split between two water systems: the City of Rockville serves about 70% of the city and WSSC Water serves the rest, and the City publishes a Water Service Provider Map showing which one covers each street. The City keeps a 24-hour emergency line, 240-314-8567, for sewer backups and water main breaks. Addresses served by WSSC Water use its emergency line, 301-206-4002. If neighbors are backing up too, call the right one of those first. If only your house is affected, the clog is most likely in your own building drain or lateral, and that is a job for a plumber.

Is jetting safe for the pipes in my house?

For a pipe in reasonable shape, yes. Rockville's median home was built in 1980, so the city mixes postwar subdivisions such as Twinbrook with newer construction. Older houses can have cast iron inside and clay or iron underground, where a plumber will usually camera the line first and choose a lower pressure if the pipe is thin or a joint is loose. Newer homes generally have plastic drain pipe, which takes jetting well. The real risk is a pipe that is already broken, and a camera finds that before the jetter goes in.

Do I need a permit for this work?

Not for clearing a line. Permits come into play if the camera turns up damage and a section has to be replaced. In Rockville, the permit office follows the water provider: the City's Express Water Heater Permit Guide sends City-water addresses to the City's Department of Community Planning and Development Services and WSSC-water addresses to WSSC Water Permit Services. A plumber can confirm which applies to your street for any repair work.

A local note

Rockville's own water comes from the Potomac River, treated at the City's plant. That doesn't change how a drain is cleaned, but it is a reminder that Rockville runs its own utility for much of the city, so check the provider map or your bill before calling about anything in the street. When you call a plumber, say which drains are backing up, whether there is a basement floor drain involved, and when the line was last cleaned.