Commercial Plumbing in Wendell, NC

Who do Wendell businesses deal with for water, sewer and permits?

Wendell is one of six Raleigh Water merger communities; the merger took effect in 2006. The Town says water and sewer in Wendell are handled by the City of Raleigh, reachable at 919-996-3245. Raleigh maintains the water line up to the property line, and from there into the building is the owner's job.

Permits work differently from Raleigh itself. You or your plumber apply through the Town of Wendell, and Wake County Permits & Inspections performs the permitting and inspections. That covers new fixtures, remodels, water heater changes on commercial buildings and similar work.

What does backflow testing involve for a business here?

Raleigh Water's cross-connection program applies. Most homes have only a non-testable dual check in the meter box, but testable assemblies on commercial domestic and fire services must be tested at installation, at replacement and every year by a certified tester who files the report electronically. Commercial irrigation assemblies are due every year by July 1; residential irrigation runs on a three-year cycle.

Are older Wendell buildings a different job from new ones?

Usually, yes. Wendell is growing fast around the Wendell Falls planned community, and half of its homes were built since 2010. But about 22.5% of homes predate 1980, and the Wendell Commercial Historic District along the downtown core holds older buildings too. In those, expect cast iron or older drain lines, past repairs of mixed materials and limited access. A camera inspection before a tenant build-out can show what's in the walls and under the floor. Newer buildings along Wendell Boulevard and Wendell Falls Parkway more often call for fixture, water heater and backflow work.

Raleigh Water reports it has never found a lead service pipe and is replacing galvanized service lines. The water is soft, about 25 ppm hardness, and chloraminated.

One local note

If a restaurant or shop near the I-87 / US 64 / US 264 interchange or out toward Lizard Lick has a sewer backup coming from the street side, report it to Raleigh Water first, then call a plumber for anything on your side of the property line.