Progress Made on Water Pipeline, Water Restrictions Still Continue

Progress continues to be made with the repairs on the 54-inch pipe in Forestville, but still some 200,000 residents are under water restrictions until the work is complete.

Crews installed a "trench box" around the failing section of the pipe Wednesday, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission reported, then cut out the weakened area. 

WSSC reported Wednesday afternoon that they continue to work on the pipe without disrupting service to customers in the affected area. 

“If we continue to conserve, I am confident the system will remain full while we complete repairs,” said Jerry N. Johnson, WSSC CEO said Wednesday. “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.”

The restrictions are mandatory to preserve firefighting capabilities and to ensure a continuous supply in the system. Find out if you are in the affected area, by using this interactive map.

Initially, WSSC and county officials announced Monday night that up to 200,000 residents could lose their water service for days -- in the middle of a major heat wave -- because the failing pipeline couldn't be fixed without shutting off a specific valve. But crews worked on opening another broken valve early Wednesday, so water could be diverted to another 30-inch pipe. 

"Even though this is great news, we also we realize that this event had a significant impact on our economy," County Executive Rushern L. Baker III said in a statement. "People were inconvenienced and businesses lost money, but we did what we had to do to prepare for the anticipated loss of water service. 

The county's office of Emergency Management shut down services catered to water crisis at 9 p.m. Wednesday, although cooling centers remain open. 

However, summer programs with the county's parks and recreation department and county schools have been reopened in areas that are unaffected by the water restriction. 

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown was happy to hear of the progress made with repairs but reminded Prince George's County residents about the mandatory water restrictions .

"I want to thank our residents in the affected area of Prince George’s County for coming together as a community to handle this situation with patience and understanding," Brown said in a statement. "The repair is still ongoing so we will all need to continue working together as a community to ensure this situation is resolved as quickly and safely as possible."