FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2003
Contact:
Liz Kalinowski or
Chuck Brown, WSSC
301-206-8185 or 8188

IN SEARCH OF…
CLEANER, BETTER WATER

Access to cleaner, more stable source water supply drives WSSC study of submerged Potomac River intake

LAUREL, MD (August 7, 2003) – Continuing their efforts to provide customers with safe, clean drinking water, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) will start a comprehensive study this month of a submerged Potomac River water intake pipe. The feasibility study follows findings from a Maryland Department of the Environment-funded assessment that determined a submerged channel intake would provide WSSC's Potomac Water Filtration Plant (WFP) access to a cleaner, more stable source water supply.

The state-funded source water assessment found that a submerged channel intake would mitigate the negative effects of sediment, solids and microorganisms entering the river upstream from WSSC's current Potomac WFP intake. It would also avoid problems created by river debris, leaves and ice that occasionally clog the existing shoreline intake.

"We are proud of our efforts to continually produce superior drinking water that is better than U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards," said WSSC General Manager John R. Griffin. "Research clearly shows that a submerged channel intake will enable us to access cleaner, more stable source water - allowing us to continue to meet, and do better than, ever-increasing EPA safe drinking water requirements. It's also important to note that we are only seeking to provide our customers with the highest quality water, not to increase our withdrawal from the river."

The intake feasibility study will address possible locations, construction methods, costs, environmental impacts and outreach activities. The $1 million contract was awarded to Montgomery Watson Harza of Chicago, Illinois. The study should be complete in fall 2004.

WSSC is among the 10 largest water and wastewater utilities in the nation, serving 1.6 million customers in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.

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