Thousands of WSSC Water customers in southern Prince George's County are advised to boil their water before consuming it after a large water main broke.
Customers should continue boiling their water for a full minute before using it for drinking, brushing teeth, making baby formula and other consumption, WSSC said early Wednesday.
A 54-inch water main broke at 1 a.m. Tuesday morning in a heavily wooded area past the Outer Loop of the Beltway. Crews had to search for the break, driving around the area where they believed it to be in the dark until they found it, said Lyn Riggins of WSSC Water. Here's an interactive map of the affected area.
Complicating repairs, crews had to build an access road and a bridge over a small stream to get to the break, Riggins said.
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Crews worked throughout the night in heavy snowfall to install the bridge and put the final piece in place as heavy snow blanketed the region.
WSSC is set to distribute clean drinking water at distribution centers on Wednesday and are open until 5 p.m. Wednesday. They are located at 6336 Rosecroft Drive in Fort Washington, Maryland and 11000 Thrift Road in Clinton, Maryland.
"WSSC Water is working closely with our Prince George’s County partners to stand up a third location today and will provide an update once that location is confirmed and open," WSSC's statement said.
Several thousand customers are affected in southern Prince George's County.
Service is slowly being restored to customers who lost water, but when the water is back on, the boil water advisory continues.
The advised area was first identified as all areas south of Pennsylvania Avenue (MD 4) but now includes communities north and east of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Riggins said that crews have turned off the water main's valves and started repairs.
"Safety is mission critical, so we're not going to do anything that's going to jeopardize the safety of the motorists or the crews, but we are going to work as diligently, as smart as we possibly can to make these repairs," Riggins said.
Here's what to do during a water boil advisory
If customers living in southern Prince George’s County have any water coming from their taps, they should bring their water to a rolling boil for one minute then cool it before doing the following:
- Drinking
- Brushing teeth
- Washing fruits and vegetables
- Preparing baby food and formula
- Making ice
- Giving to pets
All stored water, drinks or ice made recently should be discarded. Boiled water can be stored in a clean container with a cover. Water does not have to be boiled before it is used for bathing as long as it is not consumed.
WSSC Water will test samples from the impacted area to ensure the water is safe for consumption. Once water safety has been confirmed, WSSC Water will lift the boil water advisory and will notify customers that the advisory has been lifted.
Schools closed due to water main break
The following schools were closed on Tuesday due to the water main break:
- Allenwood Elementary School
- Andrew Jackson Academy
- Arrowhead Elementary School
- Avalon Elementary School
- Barnaby Manor Elementary School
- Benjamin Foulois Creative and Performing Arts
- Benjamin Stoddert Middle School
- Bishop McNamara High School
- Bradbury Heights Elementary School
- Brandywine Elementary School
- Carmody Hills Elementary School
- César Chávez Dual Spanish Immersion
- CMIT South Charter HS and Middle School
- CMIT South Charter Elementary School
- Crossland High School
- District Heights Elementary School
- Doswell Brooks Elementary School
- Drew Freeman Middle School
- Excel Academy PCS
- Forestville Technology Distribution Center
- Fort Washington Forest Elementary School
- Francis Scott Key Elementary School
- Francis T. Evans Elementary School
- Friendly High School
- Friendship Aspire Bowie STEM PCS
- Gwynn Park High School
- Gwynn Park Middle School
- Highland Park Elementary School
- Hillcrest Heights Elementary School
- Imagine Andrews PCS
- Imagine Foundation PCS
- Imagine Lincoln PCS
- Imagine Morningside PCS
- J. Frank Dent Elementary School
- James Madison Middle School
- James Ryder Randall Elementary School
- James Ryder Randall ECC
- Jessie B. Mason Special Center
- John Bayne Elementary School
- Longfields Elementary School
- Mattaponi Elementary School
- Maya Angelou French Immersion
- Melwood Elementary School
- North Forestville Elementary School
- Overlook Spanish Immersion
- Oxon Hill High School
- Panorama Elementary School
- Potomac High School
- Princeton Elementary School
- Rosaryville Elementary School
- Rose Valley Admin Building
- Samuel Chase Elementary School
- Samuel P. Massie Academy
- Skyline Administration Building
- Stephen Decatur Middle School
- Suitland Elementary School
- Suitland High School
- Surrattsville High School
- Tanglewood Admin Building
- Tayac Elementary School
- Valley View Elementary School
- Waldon Woods Elementary School
- Walker Mill Middle School
- William Beanes Elementary School
- William Hall Academy
For updates, visit the Prince George's County Schools website.
