The Town of Vienna runs its own water and sewer system, while Fairfax County Land Development Services issues plumbing and gas permits after the Town signs off on in-town projects. Older buildings and moderately hard water shape most commercial calls. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Vienna.
Is our building on Town of Vienna water or Fairfax Water?
Possibly either. The Town's water system has about 9,300 connections, and roughly a third of them are outside town limits. The Town buys its water wholesale from Fairfax Water and the Washington Aqueduct, drawn from the Potomac River and the Occoquan Reservoir. Parts of the Vienna ZIP codes beyond the Town's service area are on Fairfax Water instead, and the Town publishes separate water and sewer service area maps; where Town sewer doesn't reach, Fairfax County handles it. The bill answers it quickest. Town Water and Sewer customer service is 703-255-6385, and after hours the Town directs callers to the police non-emergency line, 703-255-6366.
How hard is Vienna's water on commercial equipment?
The Town describes its water as moderately hard to hard, historically 5 to 10 grains per gallon (80 to 170 mg/L). Restaurants, coffee shops and salons along Route 123 downtown see that as scale in storage heaters, espresso machines, dish machines and ice makers. Chloramine is the disinfectant most of the year, with a short switch to free chlorine during hydrant flushing, which some businesses notice in taste and smell. Regular flushing and descaling, or treatment for sensitive equipment, keeps repairs down. A plumber can check anode rods and heating elements during routine service and suggest whether a softener for the kitchen line makes sense.
What permits does work in town need?
Plumbing, gas and household appliance permits are filed with Fairfax County through PLUS. Like-for-like gas water heater or furnace replacement uses a Household Appliance permit, and new gas piping needs a plumbing permit. Projects inside town limits also need separate Town of Vienna approval, uploaded to the County record. For backflow assemblies on Town water, ask the Water and Sewer division what testing and reporting it expects.
Local note
The median home in Vienna was built around 1971, so many older buildings carry original drains and fixtures. On the service side, the Town's inventory found no lead or galvanized service lines; nearly all are copper. Gas is Washington Gas; if staff smell gas, leave, then call 911 and 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1, from outside.
Commercial Plumbing questions in Vienna
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?
What does the local water do to commercial water heaters and kitchen equipment?
More plumbing services in Vienna
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