WSSC Water Holding Monthly Commission Meeting on Wednesday, May 18

Laurel, Md. – May 16, 2022 – WSSC Water Commissioners are holding their monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 18, beginning at 10 a.m. The virtual meeting is open to the public via livestream from WSSC Water’s website.

Commissioners are scheduled to vote on contracts totaling more than $140 million to upgrade and expand two key facilities. The contracts include:

• $116.3 million to upgrade the Potomac Water Filtration Plant. The project consists of construction of a new storage building, upgrades to existing sedimentation basin solids collection system and other work associated with a Consent Decree requiring WSSC Water to reduce sediment discharged back into the River after the water filtration process. The filtration plant serves two-thirds of WSSC Water’s 1.9 million customers in Montgomery & Prince George’s counties.
   
• $24.5 million contract to expand WSSC Water’s Consolidated Laboratory. The expansion will upgrade the utility’s US Environmental Protection Agency-certified laboratory to meet increased demand for water quality analysis. Currently, more than 500,000 water quality tests are performed annually at this laboratory including analysis of drinking water, source water, wastewater, storm water, landfill effluent, and biosolids samples. Once complete, the new expansion will be LEED Silver certified.

The Commission meeting includes a call-in option to ensure interested stakeholders can provide input. Those wishing to speak should call in at the beginning of the comments section, which begins shortly after 10 a.m. Callers will be admitted from the “lobby” when public comments start.

Public Viewing / Participation Details
Watch: Virtual meeting broadcast link
Call-in number to provide comment: 240-800-7929
Conference ID: 522 922 101#

Please note the following:

• The virtual meeting link is not active until the meeting starts.
• If stakeholders only want to watch the meeting, the call-in number is unnecessary.
• Those wishing to speak should call at the beginning of the comments section and be admitted from the “lobby” when public comments start.
• When calling to speak, turn down your computer’s volume to avoid audio issues.
• Members of the public will have three minutes to speak.

As part of WSSC Water’s commitment to public engagement and transparency, the live broadcast of this meeting allows viewers to observe agency business, including the review of contracts and policies and a monthly synopsis of WSSC Water’s operations. The complete agenda is on WSSC Water’s website.

Monthly Commission meetings are scheduled to resume in person next month. Starting on Wednesday, June 15, customers interested in providing comments during a Commission meeting must appear in person at WSSC Water’s headquarters in Laurel. This date is subject to change based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.