Crews Working Around the Clock Fixing Dozens of Broken Mains

Laurel, MD – January 7, 2014: A wet job just might be one of the worst on a bitter cold day like today, but that isn’t stopping WSSC crews from doing what they do best. Utility technicians are currently faced with 38 broken water mains in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and are working 24/7 to repair them. 

A typical water main break takes about four to six hours to repair, but that timeframe is likely to be longer today thanks to the polar vortex. Crews need to rotate in and out of the cold to stay safe.

Other WSSC crews are on patrol for leaks, spreading sand in the area to help minimize icing. Leaks will be repaired after crews address the larger breaks. Inspectors are also extremely busy today checking all locations reported to have a water main break. Eight new breaks have been confirmed and put on the list to be repaired in the past 90 minutes.

For more information about water main breaks, visit our service alert page for an interactive map that allows users to search by address. Or check on service alerts, report a problem (even send a photo) or pay your bill with our mobile app.