Water Cut For 150,000+ Near DC Heat Temps 100°

Prince George’s water outage like a ‘natural disaster’

Wednesday – 7/17/2013

WASHINGTON – Life over the next three to five days will be one where southern Prince George’s County residents will have to adjust to no water.

More than 150,000 Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission customers are affected, but the impact is much greater since a customer may be an individual home or business.

“This is an unprecedented situation in terms of the scope and size,” said Scott Petersen, a spokesman for Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, on WTOP.

“It is the equivalent of a natural disaster hitting the county,” said Petersen.

Residents and businesses are urged to conserve water as the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission repairs a 54-inch water line, a huge project in a remote area.

Mandatory water restrictions went into effect at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Three hours later, WSSC shut down the affected water main. Water inside the main is expected to last customers 12 to 15 hours.

“The water will last 12 to 15 hours. That clock started around midnight,” said Lyn Riggins, WSSC spokeswoman, Wednesday morning. 

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