WSSC 'Holes Through' in New Water Main Project

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission engineers recently completed the tunnel-boring process to build the Bi-County Water Tunnel Project.

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission engineers recently completed the last leg of the 5.3-mile tunnel-boring process necessary to build the Bi-County Water Tunnel Project, according to a WSSC news statement. "Hitting a target 4.5 miles away when boring a tunnel 200 feet underground is quite a feat. On Friday, April 26, the tunnel-boring machine "hit the target just a few feet off dead center, breaking through the wall of a shaft near Tuckerman Lane and I-270," the statement reported. Miners call that target-hitting moment "holing through," WSSC said. As soon as the tunnel-boring machine is removed from the tunnel shaft, pipe installation will begin.  The tunnel runs about 200 feet underground along Interstate 270 and Interstate 495, and…

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WSSC Lifts Water Restrictions Necessitated by Water Main Break in Chevy Chase

Water restrictions necessitated by a massive water main break in Chevy Chase on Monday, March 18, were lifted at about 6 p.m. Saturday.

Mandatory water restrictions necessitated by a massive water main break in Chevy Chase Monday were lifted at around 6 p.m. on Saturday, according to a Montgomery County email alert. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission lifted the water restrictions—which asked residents of Montgomery and Prince George's counties to reduce water consumption by 10 percent—following the completion of repair work to the broken 60-inch-in-diameter main. The restrictions were in place for four and a half days. The ruptured main is back in service, "but restoration of the area, including roadway, sidewalk, removal of damaged trees and work on the stream bed near the break, will take weeks," the alert reported. The additional work will require the right-…

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Update: Montgomery, Prince George's Counties Ordered to Restrict Water Usage

WSSC crews determined that the pipe that broke was a 60-inch water transmission pipe connected to a 54-inch line—not a 54-inch pipe, as originally reported.

Update, 1 p.m., Thursday, March 21: Repairs to the 60-inch water main that burst Monday night in Chevy Chase continued on Thursday. Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission crews removed the damaged 20-foot section of the pipe and are working to weld a new section in place, according to a WSSC statement issued at noon Thursday. "Once repairs to the pipe are complete later this afternoon it will take several more days for the work to conclude," the statement read. Only the right-hand northbound lane of Connecticut Avenue between Dunlop Street and Manor Road in Chevy Chase Lake remained closed Thursday. Mandatory water restrictions continued Thursday for Montgomery and Prince George's counties. "There is evidence that [water] consumption is …

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Ian Cooper

9:20 am on Friday, March 22, 2013

I wish they would tax us so that they can maintain infrastructure properly (a 3 story high waterspout is evidence that they are not doing what's necessary), but they won't. Presumably I'm being held hostage by those who want something for nothing. As for eliminating one toilet flush per day, a 10% reduction in water usage is a bit more than that. As for me, I've done no laundry since the pipe …   more ›

Expect Sewer Repairs in Downtown Laurel This Week

The maintenance is scheduled to run from Tuesday, Feb. 19 to Friday, Feb. 22.

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission is set to conduct sewer maintenance in downtown Laurel from Tuesday, Feb. 19 to Friday, Feb. 22. The repairs are focused on a sewer at 614 Main Street (between 7th Street and 6th Street).  Parking may be limited in the area, and some traffic delays are possible. For more information on the repairs, contact WSSC at 301-206-8000.

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Breaking News: Laurel Area Flooding Live Chat

The live chat has ended. Read the replay from the beginning below.

  If you have flooding in your area, tell us in the comments on the live feed. Use #flooding hashtag on Twitter.

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WSSC to Complete $1 Billion in Repairs by 2015

The pricey project is federally mandated, reported the Gazette.

Thanks to a federally mandated project, the Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission (WSSC) will be undertaking a massive pipe replacement and rehabilitation project with a $1 billion price tag, according to the Gazette.  The majority of the pipe repair will involved adding a lining to existing pipes, extending the life of the pipes by another 50 to 100 years, said WSSC spokesperson Mark Behe. The Gazette reported that around 5,000 pipes and manholes and 24 sewage basins need repairs. About 1.8 million customers in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties are served by WSSC. The exact schedule of of the repairs has not been reported. Read the full story on the Gazette.

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Water Restrictions Lifted

WSSC is almost fully back in business but urges residents to be conscious of water use.

  The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) has lifted mandatory water restrictions for Montgomery and Prince George's counties, effective immediately. Power was restored to almost all pumping stations and the distribution system has returned to near normal levels following Friday night's powerful storm, according to the WSSC. "Resume water usage as normal," WSSC said, but officials encouraged customers to be conscious of water usage during the extremely hot weather. If you did not experience low pressure and/or discolored water during the restrictions, there is no need to flush the water lines at your home or business.  If you did experience low pressure and/or discolored water WSSC recommends:   Questions? Contact the Customer …

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Updated: WSSC Orders Continued Restriction of Water Use

Two water plants lost power in punishing storms, forcing water restrictions in 100-degree temperatures.

Updated at 5:45 p.m.: Saturday's mandatory water restriction remains in affect for all Montgomery and Prince George’s County customers, residential and commercial. Friday night's severe storms knocked out power to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) two water filtration plants and other facilities. Crews from BG&E and PEPCO were working to restore power, the utility said. As of 12 p.m. Saturday WSSC reported that partial power had been restored at the water filtration plants. Some pumping stations remain without power, making it difficult to move water through the distribution system. The water restrictions were mandatory to preserve firefighting capabilities and to make the water supply last while repairs were under way, …

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Rate Hikes Loom For WSSC Customers

Proposal could mean higher cost for residents, business owners.

WSSC Planning Rate Hikes

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission is planning a 7.5 percent rate increase.