Laurel, Maryland – July 26, 2010: Power has been restored to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s (WSSC) Potomac Water Filtration Plant, however mandatory water restrictions remain in place for all customers, both residential and commercial.

The storm that passed through the region on Sunday caused the Potomac Water Filtration Plant on River Road to lose electrical power. PEPCO restored power to the plant about 5:00 a.m. today. It will take about three hours for the plant to return to full production. Once that occurs a decision will then be made as to when the mandatory water restrictions can be lifted.

The Potomac Plant provides about 70 percent of the water for all WSSC customers. The Commission’s Patuxent Water Filtration Plant in Laurel never lost power and remained fully functional.

WSSC serves approximately 1.8 million residents of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

WSSC wants to ensure that there is adequate water pressure to fight fires and therefore the restrictions must remain in place.

Water reduction steps include:

Stop all outside water use – no watering lawns, no washing cars, no topping off swimming pools
Use water only as necessary
Limit flushing toilets (do not flush after every use)
Limit using washing machines and dishwashers (wash full loads only)

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Established in 1918, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission is the 8th largest water and wastewater utility in the nation, with a network of more than 5,500 miles of fresh water pipeline and nearly 5,400 miles of sewer pipeline. Serving 1.8 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, our drinking water has always met or exceeded federal standards.