Hope for 200,000 Prince George's Residents: Water May Not Run Out if Conserved

Hours after saying water would soon run out for 200,000 southern Prince George's County residents, the water company's CEO announced that a solution may have been found and residents may not actually see their taps goes dry.

Officials warned, though, that the water supply will remain scarcer than it had been and that conservation measures remain mandatory.

"We've averted a major disaster," Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission CEO Jerry N. Johnson said Wednesday during a commission meeting. 

WSSC shut off the valve to a failing 54-inch concrete pipeline in the Suitland Parkway area of Forestville around midnight Wednesday and diverted the water to a 30-inch pipeline, Johnson said. 

WSSC workers “unfroze” and closed a key valve near the failing pipe, officials reported, which greatly reduced the amount of pipeline that was to be shut down. 

“If we continue to conserve, I am confident the system will remain full while we complete repairs,” Johnson said. “I want to thank our customers who have done a terrific job of conserving, Prince George’s County officials for their efforts, and to thank our employees who wouldn’t give up on a troublesome valve.”

Earlier efforts to fix the broken valve failed, he reported, creating the potential for a large water outage. 

"The good thing is people really listened," WSSC spokesman Jerry Irvine said Wednesday. "People were heavily using the water Tuesday, but right around 9 p.m. (after the mandated water restriction) the usage went way down."

It will take WSSC two to three days to repair the pipeline. After the pipeline is fixed, WSSC must test the pipeline and water before usage can return to normal. 

Residents in Morningside, Hillcrest Heights, Camp Springs, Forest Heights, Temple Hills, and Oxon Hill will be affected by the repairs as well as Joint Base Andrews and at National Harbor. Summer camps and school programs have also been shut down.

Please check this interactive map to see if you are in the affected area. 

The Prince George's Fire Department offered tips for residents to stay safe and encouraged neighbors to check on the elderly and those with health conditions throughout the week. Officials also asked that residents call 311 for information and shortage-related issues and leave 911 open for emergencies. 

County pools in areas unaffected by the water shortage will remain open and residents can enter free of charge to beat the heat. 

Residents with questions can call WSSC at 301-206-4002. You can also follow WSSC on Facebook and Twitter. 

The Prince George’s Office of Emergency Management can be reached at 240-619-9400.