Laurel, Md. – July 8, 2025 – WSSC Water is responding to a six-gallon oil spill that occurred at approximately 6 p.m. tonight at the Supplee Lane Recreation Area, near 16904 Supplee Lane in Laurel. The Supplee Lane Recreation Area will be closed until further notice.
Tonight’s storm knocked down a tree that struck a BGE transformer, located at the recreation area. The damaged transformer released an oil substance that spilled into the parking lot and flowed into the T. Howard Duckett Reservoir.
WSSC Water immediately notified Maryland Department of the Environment and BGE and began coordinating an emergency response to contain and mitigate the spill, which can be seen on the surface of the water. As a precaution, water-quality monitoring and treatment modifications are being made at the Patuxent Water Filtration Plant.
It is important to note: Drinking water quality is NOT impacted. The drinking water remains safe and water quality monitoring is underway.
The T. Howard Duckett Reservoir holds approximately five billion gallons of water and serves as the drinking water source for about 25 percent of WSSC Water’s customers in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.
WSSC Water will provide an update on social media/web when the Supplee Lane Recreation Area reopens.
