WSSC Customers only Essential Water Use

 WSSC Water is urging all 1.9 million customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties to only use water for essential purposes effective immediately. At this time, water is safe and there is no need to boil before essential use. 

The urgent essential-water-use-only request was issued due to the predicted increase in the number of water main breaks and leaks brought on by the frigid temperatures, including break locations that have not yet been identified. At this time, WSSC Water is aware of 34 breaks/leaks.

Following the guidance below could avoid a Boil Water Advisory and help preserve water for system storage and fire protection as crews work to repair breaks/leaks across a 1,000-square-mile service area. 

Until further notice, all customers are being urged to:

• Use water only as necessary – i.e., take shorter showers and quickly turn off faucets from running at full force.
• Limit flushing toilets (do not flush after every use).
• Limit using washing machines and dishwashers.

Because of the extreme cold and the possibility of pipes freezing inside customers’ homes, WSSC Water continues to advise customers to leave a faucet running on a trickle when they are home to keep water moving through the pipes. The amount of water used to keep water flowing at a trickle through pipes will have minimal impact on demand and may save customers from costly repairs caused by frozen or broken pipes in their homes. It is also advisable to open cabinet doors to expose pipes to your home’s warmth.

Customers are also urged to immediately report any water surfacing or flowing down streets, sidewalks or rights of way. Identifying and repairing hidden breaks as quickly as possible is critical to maintaining reliable water service to customers.

There is a direct connection between dropping water temperatures in the Potomac River and the increase in water main breaks.  According to the WSSC, they typically see an increase in breaks a few days after the Potomac River temperature hits a new low as the colder water hits the distribution system. The dropping water temperature can “shock” water mains, and though the pipes become accustomed to the cold water; whenever water temperatures hit a new low, there follows a spike in breaks.

On average, WSSC crews repair more than 1,800 water main breaks and leaks each year, with the vast majority of them, approximately 1,200, occurring between November and February. WSSC has already repaired approximately 300 breaks since November this year.  Last winter as seen below, the total number of breaks was above average. There is a large percentage of the distribution system that is quite old.

WSSC Water spends approximately $17 million each year for emergency water main repairs alone, with about $10 million spent November through February. During a typical year, WSSC Water crews repair more than 1,800 water main breaks and leaks, approximately 65 % of which (1,152) occur between November and February. 

Aging infrastructure is a critical factor in breaks and leaks. The older pipes are “shocked” by the colder water, causing them to break. Approximately 42% of the water mains in WSSC Water’s system are more than 50 years old.