Suitland homes get water from WSSC Water, which is responsible for the service line where it meets the main, while the homeowner owns the section from the property line into the house. Many Suitland houses date from the early 1970s or before, so original lines are common. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Suitland.
Where does WSSC's pipe end and mine begin?
WSSC Water describes the split this way: the utility takes care of the portion of the water service line that connects to its main, and the customer owns the part that runs from the property line into the home. In practice, water coming up at the curb, in the street or at the meter is a WSSC call, and its Emergency Services Center is at 301-206-4002. A wet stretch of lawn or a leak at the basement wall is on the private side, which you arrange with a plumber.
Is my Suitland house old enough to worry about the pipe itself?
The median home in Suitland was built around 1973, and the community grew fast after federal offices arrived during World War II, so a good share of houses are older still. A service line that has been in the ground for fifty years or more can be galvanized steel that has corroded inside, or copper with worn joints. WSSC's What's Your Pipe Type? program and its online inventory map show what material is recorded for an address, and WSSC notes that some customer-side galvanized lines need replacement. If the map lists galvanized or unknown, a plumber can confirm it at the point where the pipe enters the house.
Who can do the repair, and what does a permit involve?
In Prince George's County, WSSC Water rather than the county permits and inspects plumbing. WSSC requires water service line repairs and replacements to be done by a plumber who holds a WSSC license, so this isn't a do-it-yourself project. The plumber applies through WSSC's ePermitting system when the job needs it, and an inspection follows. Building permits for other parts of a project come from Prince George's County DPIE.
A local note
Suitland is about six miles from downtown Washington, but it's on WSSC Water, not DC Water, so DC's programs and phone numbers don't apply here. When you call, an independent local plumber can check where the water is coming from, confirm whether the line is yours or WSSC's, and walk you through a spot repair versus a full replacement.
Water Line Repair questions in Suitland
Who owns the water pipe between the street and my house?
Is galvanized pipe a reason to replace the line?
What should I do first if the line breaks and water is gushing?
Can a new service line go in without a long open trench?
More plumbing services in Suitland
Water Line Repair nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: