Staying Safe Until Service Is Restored

Montgomery County residents who live in the area affected by the recent water main break are asked to boil drinking water, limit toilet flushing and generally cut down on water use until the system returns to normal. Dialysis patients are urged to contact medical professionals for instructions. The county is staffing a hotline that can be reached by calling 240-777-4200. Updates can be found online at http://montgomerycountymd.gov and http://washingtonpost.com.

Here are answers to common questions about the water restrictions:

How can I tell if I live in the area affected by the break?

Many communities north of the Capital Beltway that are served by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission are affected. If you have low water pressure or none at all, you should take precautions. Some Rockville residents are served by the WSSC. Others are served by Rockville's water system and are not affected. To figure out which utility provides your water, look at your most recent water bill or at the closest fire hydrant, which should display the name of the water supplier.

How do I know when water is safe to drink? Does unsafe water smell bad?

Contaminated water does not necessarily have an odor. The WSSC has to test samples from affected areas to determine whether the water is safe. Results should be available within 24 hours of testing. Check periodically for updates.

How long should I boil water before using it?

A rolling boil for one minute should kill most organisms. Be sure to let it cool.

I can't boil water. What else can I do?