Weather/Disaster Temporary water restrictions in Maryland - outages in some areas

[Beth n Rod]

If you work in Maryland, you will want to read there. Power washing is not mentioned, but I'm sure it was an oversight. Below are TWO links to difference releases.

Public Information - News Releases:

BOIL WATER ADVISORY FOR CUSTOMERS IN PORTIONS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTIONS ALSO IN EFFECT



Contact WSSC Communications 301.206.8100



(Laurel, MD June 16, 2008): The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) is issuing a precautionary boil water advisory for Montgomery County outside the beltway, with the exception of customers who receive their water from the City of Rockville.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission experienced a major water main break at 9:15 p.m. on Sunday evening. This resulted in the loss of water pressure or water service for large areas of Montgomery County outside the Beltway.
When water systems lose pressure there is an increased risk of contamination. Although we do not have an indication that the water system has been contaminated, as a precaution, the WSSC and the Maryland Department of the Environment recommend if you live outside the beltway in Montgomery County, that you boil all water before use. Water should be brought to a rolling boil for one minute and cooled before using. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and food preparation.
The boil water advisory will continue until further notice, the water pressure is returned, the system is thoroughly flushed and the acceptable water quality is confirmed by water testing. We expect this process to take at least three days.
In addition, Mandatory Water Restrictions are now in effect for those customers in this same geographic area. This is an effort to keep up water pressure for fire protection. These restrictions include;

• No outside watering
• No filling swimming pools
• No laundry
• No dishwashing
• Limit toilet flushing

These restrictions will remain in effect until some time later today.
We regret the inconvenience that this may cause.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail
For more information, please contact WSSC Communications at 301.206.8100.

###

WSSC is the 8th largest water and wastewater utility in the nation, serving more than 1.8 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. We operate and maintain seven water and wastewater plants, 5,500 miles of fresh water pipeline and over 5,300 miles of sewer pipeline. In our 90-year history our drinking water has always met or exceeded federal standards.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Public Information - News Releases:

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS & COMMUNITY RELATIONS




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jim Neustadt

301.906.4276

Lyn Riggins

301.646.3517

WSSC has received numerous phone calls from customers in Montgomery County who are either without water or are experiencing low water pressure. We believe there is a water main break in what we call the "Montgomery High Zone". We are searching for the location of that break. This is affecting homes primarily north of Randolph road. Some of the communities affected include parts of Germantown, Olney, Hampshire Green, Burtonsville and Gaithersburg.

At this time we have no estimate on how many customers are affected or how long they will be without water.

[Beth n Rod]

Public Information - News Releases:

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS & COMMUNITY RELATIONS


***update 10:15***

BOIL WATER ADVISORY FOR CUSTOMERS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTIONS ALSO IN EFFECT

WATER HAS BEEN RESTORED TO SOME CUSTOMERS.

EMERGENCY CONTRACTORS ARE BEING HIRED MAKE TO REPAIRS.



Contact: WSSC Communications 301.206.8100


(Laurel, MD June 16, 2008): The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for Montgomery County outside the beltway, with the exception of residents who receive their water from the City of Rockville. In addition, there are mandatory water restrictions in these areas. The water restrictions may be lifted later this evening once water is restored. The boil water advisory is in effect for three days.
Water is being restored in some areas of the county, and pressure is building back up in the water system. However, it may be several more hours before there is full restoration of service. WSSC is hiring emergency contractors to repair the broken water man.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission experienced a major water main break at 9:15 p.m. on Sunday evening. This resulted in the loss of water pressure or water service for large areas of Montgomery County outside the Beltway.
When water systems lose pressure there is an increased risk of contamination. Although we do not have an indication that the water system has been contaminated, as a precaution, the WSSC and the Maryland Department of the Environment recommend if you live in Montgomery County you should bring water to a rolling boil for one minute and cool before using. Only boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and food preparation.
The boil water advisory will continue until further notice or acceptable water quality is confirmed by water testing. We expect this process to take at least three days.
The mandatory water restrictions are part of an effort to maintain water pressure for fire protection. These restrictions include;

• No outside watering
• No filling swimming pools
• No laundry
• No dishwashing
• Limit toilet flushing

These restrictions will remain in effect until some time later today.
We regret the inconvenience that this may cause.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail
For more information, please contact WSSC Communications at 301.206.8100.

###

WSSC is the 8th largest water and wastewater utility in the nation, serving more than 1.8 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. We operate and maintain seven water and wastewater plants, 5,500 miles of fresh water pipeline and over 5,300 miles of sewer pipeline. In our 90-year history our drinking water has always met or exceeded federal standards.

[Beth n Rod]

Public Information - News Releases:

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS & COMMUNITY RELATIONS


***update 9:00 P.M.***

WATER RESTORED TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY
MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTION IS LIFTED


BOIL WATER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT



Contact: WSSC Communications 301.206.8100


(Laurel, MD June 16, 2008): The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) announced tonight that water service has been restored to all of Montgomery County and a mandatory water restriction has been lifted. The precautionary boil water advisory remains in effect for three days in some areas of the county.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) has posted on its web site a map showing areas of Montgomery County where residents should continue boiling their water before consuming it. To view the map and to get more information, go to the WSSC website, www.wsscwater.com and click on “areas affected by boil water order.” The areas where the boil water advisory is still in effect have been reduced because we were able to better define areas impacted by the break.
Although there was no evidence of contamination of the water, WSSC and Maryland Department of the Environment recommended that residents who live in some parts of Montgomery County outside of the beltway boil their water as a precaution.
WSSC has hired private contractors to repair the broken 48” pre cast concrete cylinder that broke Sunday night, causing water shortages and low water pressure in communities outside of the beltway. The water main was constructed in 1970.
Residents of the City of Rockville are not affected by the boil water advisory because they have a separate water supply.
When water systems lose pressure there is an increased risk of contamination. Only boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing food.
The mandatory water restriction was imposed in an effort to maintain water pressure for fire protection.
The water main break was discovered at 9:15 p.m. on Sunday evening in an area of the Rock Creek Regional Park near Muncaster Mill Road and Meadowside Lane. This resulted in the loss of water pressure or water service for tens of thousands of Montgomery County residents who live outside the beltway.
For more information, please contact WSSC Communications at 301.206.8100.

###

WSSC is the 8th largest water and wastewater utility in the nation, serving more than 1.8 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. We operate and maintain seven water and wastewater plants, 5,500 miles of fresh water pipeline and over 5,300 miles of sewer pipeline. In our 90-year history our drinking water has always met or exceeded federal standards.

[Beth n Rod]

Everything has been lifted. Public Information - News Releases:
Beth