Editor’s note: This story was originally published at 4:03 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2025. It was updated at 10:55 a.m. on Jan. 13, 2025, to include updated information about the water use alert.
WSSC Water, a utility that serves 1.9 million customers across Montgomery and Prince George’s County, is continuing to urge its customers to only use water for essential purposes due to frigid temperatures causing an increase in water main breaks and leaks, the utility said in a Monday morning press release.
The 9:15 a.m. update advised that water is still safe to use and there is no need to boil the water before use.
The utility initially issued an alert Sunday afternoon urging customers to only use water for essential purposes “due to a significant 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,” the release said.
The WSSC water alert does not apply to Rockville City Water customers.
Until further notice, WSSC Water urged customers to:
- Use water only as necessary (take shorter showers and quickly turn off faucets immediately after use)
- Limit flushing toilets (do not flush after every use)
- Limit using washing machines and dishwashers
Following the guidance, WSSC Water said, could help the system avoid a Boil Water Advisory and “preserve water for system storage and fire protection as crews work to make repairs to break/leaks across a 1,000 square-mile service area.”
According to the Monday release, WSSC Water is responding to 63 breaks/leaks in the area, which is an increase from the 47 breaks/leaks in the system reported on Sunday afternoon.
At a 3 p.m. press briefing on Sunday, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) Fire Chief Corey Smedley said MCFRS has plans in place for these situations to ensure it can handle fires and other emergencies.
In addition, WSSC Water called in additional crews and emergency contractors to search for unreported breaks/leaks and make repairs, according to the release.
As repairs continue, WSSC Water said inspectors are “shutting broken/leaking mains down before crews are dispatched to the break” in an effort to maintain system water pressure. “This may result in longer than usual times for repairs and customers may experience water outages or lower pressure for more extended periods,” the utility said.
Amid the first big winter storm of the new year, a large water main break occurred at 10 a.m. Monday at 7235 Wisconsin Ave. in downtown Bethesda. The break caused the closure of northbound Wisconsin Avenue (MD Route 355) at Elm and Waverly streets, Montgomery County police said Monday in a social media post. The section of northbound Wisconsin Avenue reopened after repairs were completed at roughly 1:35 a.m. Tuesday.
WSSC Water urged customers to contact WSSC Water’s Emergency Services Center at 301- 206-4002 to report any running water or if they smell chlorine, which is used to disinfect drinking water.
–Elia Griffin contributed to this report.
