Laurel, Md. – January 31, 2026, 1:05 p.m. – WSSC Water continues to urge all 1.9 million customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties to only use water for essential purposes. Drinking water is safe and there is no need to boil before essential use.
The urgent essential-water-use-only request was issued at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, January 27 and remains in effect as extreme cold temperatures are expected to continue through the weekend. The below normal temperatures are increasing the number water main breaks and leaks across our 1,000-square-mile service area, which increases water demand and affects our ability to keep storage tanks full and maintain required system pressure. At this time, WSSC Water is aware of 48 breaks/leaks. Crews have responded to 360 breaks/leaks since January 1.
With crews working around the clock in extremely cold, snowy and icy conditions, drivers are urged to use extra caution when traveling in work zones.
- Slow down when approaching and traveling through work zones.
- Follow traffic control signs.
- Use extra caution - travel lanes can unexpectedly shift, narrow, or suddenly end due to snow/ice.
Review our map of reported water main breaks and leaks. Please note, this is a dynamic map that updates approximately every 30 minutes.
Adhering to the following guidance could avoid a Boil Water Advisory (BWA) and help preserve water for system storage and fire protection. There is currently no BWA.
- Use water only as necessary - i.e., take shorter showers and quickly turn off faucets from running at full force.
- Limit flushing toilets (do not flush after every use).
- Limit using washing machines and dishwashers.
Because of the extreme cold and the possibility of pipes freezing inside customers’ homes, WSSC Water continues to advise customers to leave a faucet running on a trickle when they are home to keep water moving through the pipes. The amount of water used to keep water flowing at a trickle through pipes will have minimal impact on demand and may save customers from costly repairs caused by frozen or broken pipes in their homes. It is also advisable to open cabinet doors to expose pipes to your home’s warmth.
Customers are also urged to immediately report any water surfacing or flowing down streets, sidewalks or rights of way. Identifying and repairing hidden breaks as quickly as possible is critical to maintaining reliable water service to customers.
There are three ways to contact us:
WSSC Water is carefully monitoring water demand and production challenges at both filtration plants due to extreme cold temperatures. The recent snowfall and icy conditions are significantly limiting crews’ ability to visually locate breaks, making customer reports essential to prevent pressure loss in the system. A loss of pressure in a water distribution system can result in a BWA.
WSSC Water has called in additional maintenance crews, staff from other departments and emergency contractors to search for any unreported breaks/leaks to make repairs. Water main breaks/leaks are expected to continue to increase as extreme cold remains in the forecast through the weekend.
When a water main breaks, crews prioritize repairs that affect system water pressure, impact large numbers of customers, or pose roadway safety risks. In contrast, leaks are typically smaller issues that do not cause damage and can often be left in place without disrupting customer service or overall system operations. WSSC Water is applying salt at active leak locations to prevent icing and placing signs where leaks have already been reported.
To maintain system pressure, WSSC Water inspectors may have to shut down broken/leaking mains before dispatching repair crews to the break to keep system pressures stable. This may result in longer-than-usual repair times, and customers may experience water outages or lower pressure for more extended periods.
WSSC Water thanks customers for their patience.
WSSC Water is providing continuous updates to keep customers informed. Customers are encouraged to check https://www.wsscwater.com and follow WSSC Water on social media for updates as this situation develops:
