Commercial Plumbing in Waldorf, MD

Which rules apply to a business on county water in Waldorf?

The Charles County Department of Public Works, Utilities Division, runs the Waldorf community water system and the sewer lines behind it. The water is mostly groundwater from county wells in the Patapsco and Magothy aquifers, blended with treated water the county buys from WSSC. That blend matters to commercial owners mainly in one way: the account, the meter, the backflow records and any main break all sit with the county, not with the bistate utility next door. Utility questions go to the Utilities Division at 301-609-7400.

Waldorf grew fast after 1980 and now serves as the largest commercial and residential hub in Southern Maryland, so many strip centers, pad sites and office parks along US 301, MD 228 and St. Charles Parkway are relatively new. That usually means PVC drains and modern fixtures, but also a lot of original water heaters, flush valves and mixing valves reaching the end of their service life at roughly the same time.

Who can test the backflow assembly on our building or irrigation?

Under the county's Cross-Connection Control Program, every testable assembly, irrigation included, has to be tested at least once a year by a certified master or journey plumber. Landscaped commercial lots need an ASSE 1013 reduced pressure zone assembly on the irrigation line, since the county no longer permits pressure vacuum breakers there, and an irrigation system cannot be used until its assembly passes. New irrigation installs need a Charles County backflow permit. Account-specific questions go to the Cross Connection Control Specialist at 301-609-5606.

Where do commercial plumbing permits come from?

Codes, Permits and Inspection Services, part of the county's Department of Planning and Growth Management, issues them from 200 Baltimore Street in La Plata (301-645-0692). The county building code adopts the International Plumbing Code and the International Fuel Gas Code. Water heater changes, new fixtures in a tenant fit-out and gas piping all run through that office rather than WSSC.

A note for Waldorf property managers

Washington Gas serves Charles County. If anyone smells gas, get people out of the building first, then from outside call 911 and Washington Gas at 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427), option 1. When you call this page, mention the type of business, whether the problem stops operations, and whether the device or line in question protects irrigation, a fire line or kitchen equipment. That lets the plumber show up with the right parts.