UPDATE: Monthly Meeting Changed to Virtual Due to Ongoing Impacts from the Winter Storm WSSC Water Holding Monthly and Special Commission Meetings on Wednesday, January 17

Laurel, Md. – January 16, 2024 – Due to ongoing impacts from the recent winter storm, the WSSC Water Commissioners will hold both meetings scheduled for Wednesday, January 17 virtually.  The monthly meeting begins at 10 a.m. and will be held in person at the WSSC Water office building in Laurel and available via livestream from WSSC Water’s website. The special meeting, also being held virtually begins at 2 p.m. Members of the public are invited to participate in both meetings (details below).

Monthly Meeting 

The monthly meeting agenda includes scheduled votes on two water main replacement contracts in Montgomery County enabling the continued delivery of clean, safe and reliable drinking water: a $3.89 million contract to replace mains in the Olney Mill and Olney Square neighborhoods and a $7.7 million contract to replace mains in Bethesda. The water mains in these areas have experienced numerous breaks and leaks over the past three decades.

The meeting agenda includes numerous presentations, including WSSC Water’s plan to comply with updates to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule. 

The meeting includes a call-in option to ensure interested stakeholders can provide input. Those wishing to speak should call in at the beginning of the comments section, which begins shortly after 10 a.m. Callers will be admitted from the “lobby” when public comments start.         

Public Viewing / Participation Details – 10 a.m.     

Watch: Meeting broadcast link       

Call-in number to provide comment: 240-800-7929        

Conference ID: 774 920 860#

Please note the following:     

• The meeting link is not active until the meeting starts.       
• If stakeholders only want to watch the meeting, the call-in number is unnecessary.       
• Those wishing to speak should call at the beginning of the comments section and will be admitted from the “lobby” when public comments start.       
• When calling to speak, turn down your computer’s volume to avoid audio issues.       
• Members of the public, in person and virtually, will have three minutes to speak.      

Special Virtual Meeting

Following the virtual monthly meeting, Commissioners will convene their third special virtual meeting to review and discuss rate-setting design considerations. The virtual special meeting is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. and is open to the public via livestream directly from WSSC Water’s website.   

The rate-setting design process has multiple steps to help identify financial and policy considerations, revenue requirements and affordability issues when considering possible adjustments to WSSC Water’s existing rate structure.  

A rate structure is how customers are charged for water/sewer. WSSC Water uses a volumetric, four-tier inclining block structure and fixed fees (account maintenance and infrastructure investment fees) to recover costs. WSSC Water’s rate structure is not changing. The rate-setting design process will help determine if changes need to be made to the volumetric charges within each tier to better account for current consumption patterns and/or changes to fixed fees.  

The complete agenda can be found here.  

Customers will have the opportunity to watch/listen and provide comments. 

Public Viewing / Participation Details – 2 p.m.        

Watch: Meeting broadcast link        
Call-in number to listen and provide comment: 240-800-7929         
Conference ID: 936 028 552#
Public comments will occur at the end of the meeting. Members of the public will have three minutes to speak.

Public outreach is an integral part of the rate-setting design process. Those unable to attend/watch the meeting can provide comments to BudgetGroup@wsscwater.com. The next special virtual meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at 2 p.m. Please check Upcoming Events on wsscwater.com for details.