Update 4:09 p.m. Sept. 30: The essential water use request is still in effect “to allow our system to recover,” WSSC Water CEO and General Manager Kishia Powell said Wednesday afternoon. The WSSC team is “considering the timing to lift the request,” she said during a media briefing with County Executive Marc Elrich that started after 12:30 p.m. Powell said the Potomac plant’s “system is stable” and is producing water. The latest news alert posted by WSSC was at 10:45 a.m.
As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the essential water use request remains in effect as progress is being made to restore normal operations to the Potomac water filtration plant, according to WSSC Water.
On Tuesday morning, the utility announced there was a power outage at its Potomac plant and all customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties were urged to use water for essential purposes only. The outage affected nearly 2 million customers across the two counties.
Power was restored as of 9:35 p.m. Tuesday, but only due to a temporary workaround.
Water storage in WSSC’s system is getting back to normal levels Wednesday morning and power delivery is “adequate,” according to WSSC.
The situation is still “critical” and crews will continue working to fully restore power and normal operations.
Customers are urged to do the following to save water:
- take shorter showers;
- quickly turn off faucets after use;
- limit outdoor water use, like lawn irrigation;
- limit flushing toilets or don’t flush after every use and;
- limit using washing machine and dishwasher usage.
Drinking water is safe and there is no boil water advisory at the time of this publication.
In Montgomery County, WSSC provides the public water, with the exception of the City of Rockville and the Town of Poolesville, which provide water for their own municipalities.
The Potomac plant is the largest of WSSC’s two plants. It takes water straight from the Potomac River and supplies drinking water to about 75% of customers.
Previous WSSC Update:
WSSC urges essential water use only due to power outage at Potomac filtration plant
