WSSC Water Crews Quickly Respond to Two Sanitary Sewer Overflows

Excessive Rainfall Causes Overflow in Prince George’s County

Collapsed Pipe Causes Overflow in Montgomery County

Drinking Water System NOT Affected

Laurel, Md. – November 12, 2020 – WSSC Water crews quickly responded to two Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO) today, one in Prince George’s County and a second in Montgomery County.

The SSO in Prince George’s County was located at 14313 Indian Head Highway in Accokeek, near WSSC Water’s Piscataway Water Resource Recovery Facility. It began at 6:46 a.m. and ended at 3:22 p.m. The total volume of this overflow is estimated at 18,934 gallons of untreated, diluted wastewater, which flowed into Piscataway Creek. Because excessive rainfall caused the overflow, no repairs are necessary. WSSC Water crews monitored the area until the wastewater volume subsided, therefore stopping the overflow. Signs warning people to avoid the area will be posted on Friday.

The second SSO is located in a heavily wooded area of Montgomery County near 18845 Porterfield Way in Germantown. This SSO was confirmed at 11:48 a.m. and is ongoing.  The total volume of this overflow is estimated to be in excess of 10,000 gallons. Crews are working to access the site and set up a temporary bypass pumping operation to move the wastewater around a collapsed section of the 30-inch diameter sewer pipe, which is causing the overflow. The untreated, diluted wastewater is flowing into Seneca Creek. Signs warning residents to avoid the area will be posted on Friday. Crews will conduct an investigation to determine what caused the pipe to collapse.

WSSC Water has made appropriate notifications to the Maryland Department of the Environment and the health departments in both counties.  

WSSC Water is committed to protecting the health of the public and the environment. With more than 5,500 miles of sewer mains throughout its service area, WSSC Water appreciates notifications from citizens if a sewer overflow or water main break is suspected. Citizens can call WSSC Water’s 24-hour Emergency Call Center at 301-206-4002 to report water or sewer emergencies in Prince George’s or Montgomery counties.

Customers can also report emergencies via email at emergencycallcenter@wsscwater.com and those customers who have smart phones can report emergencies using the WSSC Water Mobile App.