Laurel, MD July 26, 2010: General Manager Jerry N.
Johnson has announced the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC)
is lifting the Mandatory Water Use Restrictions, effective immediately.
WSSC’s
Potomac Water Filtration Plant on River Road lost electrical power
Sunday afternoon when a storm moved through the region. PEPCO restored
power to the plant about 5:00 a.m. today. The plant returned to full
production late this morning and storage capacity throughout the system
has been replenished to an acceptable level.
“We appreciate the
patience of our customers, many of whom are dealing with a loss of power
and storm damage,” said General Manager Johnson. “Maintaining an
adequate supply of water pressure to fight fires and handle other
emergencies is a critical responsibility for WSSC and we needed to take
immediate action to ensure those needs could be met.”
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 worked closely with
PEPCO through the night as the utility restored power to the Potomac
Plant. “I thank PEPCO for their swift repair efforts which allowed WSSC
to quickly resume our mission,” said Johnson.