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NoVA & DC Plumbing Map

Sheet 2 of 18 · District of Columbia

Georgetown plumbing: sewer work and historic review

Full map

Georgetown is where DC Water has opened sewer investigations for separation, and where the historic district shapes any exterior plumbing work; the pipes themselves follow the same DC Water split as the rest of the District.

Sheet revised November 3, 2026 · who makes this map

Red brick federal-style houses with black shutters on N Street NW
N Street NW in Georgetown.
Who does what here
WaterDC Water in public space; you from the property line in source
SewerDC Water main; lateral is the owner's source
PermitsDOB, plus historic review for exterior work source
LicensingDLCP master plumber source
Lead pipesDC Water lead map source

The sewer-separation work

DC Water announced sewer investigations in Georgetown as part of a plan to separate sewers. The announcement page would not open for us, so we know only its headline: investigations for separation. We could not confirm which streets are covered or when. DC Water's own site also lists a Georgetown Tunnel Forum among upcoming events, and describes the 5.5-mile Potomac River Tunnel, part of the Clean Rivers program that reduces overflows to the Potomac, Anacostia and Rock Creek.

For a homeowner, the practical point is that crews may be working near your lateral. Find out whether a project touches your block before you spend on lateral work, and see sewer lateral repair for how repairs are split.

Key Bridge arches over the Potomac seen from the Georgetown waterfront at sunrise
Key Bridge from the Georgetown waterfront, with DC on one bank and Virginia on the other.

The historic district

Georgetown has a historic district, and DC's Historic Preservation Office reviews exterior work whenever a building permit is needed. The regulations list plumbing equipment installation as an alteration. A vent not visible from the street is a minor matter, with review in about one to three days. Interiors are reviewed only where designated. Minor repairs on a historic property may still need a permit. Read historic district limits before you plan a new vent, a service entry or a meter box.

Backups and rebates

If sewage comes up a drain, stop using water and keep everyone clear, then call 202-612-3400. DC Water generally does not pay for cleanup, so claims go to 202-787-2052 after an investigation. DC Water also runs a backwater valve rebate (see the Bloomingdale sheet for the terms); the rebate office is 202-787-2003.

What the map can't tell you

  • Whether your street is covered by the separation investigations, and when work starts.
  • Whether your property lies inside the historic district boundary; the Historic Preservation Office holds the map.
  • Whether your lateral is shared or runs under a neighbor's property.
  • Whether the lead on DC Water's map is confirmed or a record guess.

Check your own address

  1. Phone 202-612-3400 and ask whether a separation or tunnel project is planned for your street.
  2. Confirm with the Historic Preservation Office that your address is in the Georgetown district and whether the repair needs review.
  3. Check your plumber's license on the DLCP site, and see check a license.
  4. Open the lead map for your address; the color tells you whether the record is verified or only suspected.
  5. Call 811 before any dig; the trench belongs to a licensed contractor.

More on checking an address

Survey notes: sources for this page