Water Will Stay On, Mandatory Water Restrictions Continue, Shelters Close

Local residents are still being urged to conserve water as mandatory water restrictions in the southern part of Prince George's County remain in effect. Meanwhile, officials with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission have confirmed that taps will not have to fear a water outage as repairs are completed. 

"WSSC will be able to repair the failing pipe with no disruption in service to customers," reads a media release distributed by the utility on Thursday morning. 

Customers are still being told they need to stop all outside water use. That means no watering of lawns, refilling of pools or washing of cars. They are also being asked to take shorter showers, limit the flushing of toilets and not use washing machines and dishwashers.

Last night, the Prince George's County Emergency Operations Center closed down displacement shelters, cooling centers and other services offered related to the once-imminent, now averted water shortage, according to county officials. 

Earlier this week, a failing section of 54-inch concrete water main pipe in Forestville threatened to send parts of Prince George’s County without water for several days while repairs are made, according to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. 

WSSC has produced an interactive map which residents and customers can use to find out if they live or work in the affected area, which includes the Andrews Joint Service Base area, National Harbor, Temple Hills, Oxon Hill and others. 

"Once the water is shut off to make repairs, there will still be enough water in the system to provide water for another 12-14 hours," reads an announcement from WSSC. "However, mandatory water restrictions will be in place to preserve fire fighting capabilities and to make the water supply last while repairs are underway."

WSSC released the following timeline related to repairs: 

• Mandatory water Restrictions will begin at 9 p.m. Tuesday;
• WSSC will refill the system to capacity in the area to be affected;
• Once the system is full, WSSC will de-water the pipe to prepare for repairs;
• The affected area should have water for approximately 12-15 hours after the water is shut off;
• Repairs are scheduled to be completed and water restored within five days.

"Until repairs are complete, it is imperative that all business and residential customers restrict their water use," the commission said in a statement issued earlier this week. "The less water that is used, the longer it will be available for critical functions to customers in this affected area."

WSSC is still providing water to residents in the affected areas at three distribution centers, but residents will be limited to two gallons per person.

The distribution points will open from noon to 9 p.m. on July 17 and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. until the water outage is over. Residents should bring their own containers.

Hillcrest Heights Elementary

4305 22nd Place

Hillcrest Heights, MD  20748

Thurgood Marshall Middle School

4909 Brinkley Road

Temple Hills, MD  20748

Oxon Hill Elementary School

7701 Livingston Road

Oxon Hill, MD  20745

The county has closed two "reception" centers and a shelter for residents looking for a place to take showers, clean-up and cool-off. 

The closed reception centers were located at at Stephen Decatur Middle School in Clinton, Friendly High School in Fort Washington as well as a 24-hour shelter at Wise High School.