Discolored Water Reported in Montgomery, Prince George's Counties Homes

>>News Alerts: Subscribe to a free email newsletter: BETHESDA • ROCKVILLE • SILVER SPRING • BOWIE

Residents throughout Montgomery and Prince George’s County are reporting discolored water in their pipes, say utility officials, who say the water is safe for drinking.

However, residents shouldn’t wash clothes with the discolored water, which might leave rust stains, say Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission officials.

WSSC is receiving more customer calls than normal reporting discolored water, the utility said Friday. Daily water tests show no reason to believe there is a public health risk.

The calls are coming in from throughout Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. It is believed the discolored water is a by-product of the harsh winter, WSSC said in a news release.

Customers who notice discolored water are asked to call or email WSSC to report it. The number is 301.206.4002 and is open 24/7 or send an email to [email protected].

Discolored water is caused when iron deposits in the pipes are released. This sediment is not harmful and can be stirred up by sudden changes in water flow.

Water discoloration may be caused by:

• Temporary increases in the water flow disturbing sediment.
• Closed WSSC valves may disturb the water flow of nearby mains causing a temporary increase or reversal of flow stirring up sediment.
• Fully opening a fire hydrant for firefighting purposes can cause a sudden increase in flow, which may temporarily cause discoloration.
• New water mains might cause a change in established flow patterns and cause temporary discoloration.

Although water is safe for drinking, customers with compromised immune systems (such as cancer patients undergoing treatment, HIV positive individuals, transplant recipients, seniors, and infants) should take the same precautions they normally take with regular tap water and/or seek advice from their physician before consuming discolored water.

When WSSC receives calls about discolored water, its crews typically open a fire hydrant in the area to flush out the water lines. The flushing, which can last as long as several hours, often resolves the problem.

WSSC does not recommend using discolored water to do laundry. If clothing gets stained, immediately wash the clothes again using a rust remover product. This type of product is available in most supermarkets or you can contact WSSC at 301-206-4001 or contact us online and request a stain remover. For better results, do not let the clothes dry.

Additional information on discolored water can be found by visiting the WSSC FAQ page. Customers can also read the latest Water Quality Report at https://www.wsscwater.com/wqr.