For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 14, 2002
A water supply release of 30-million gallons a day from the Little Seneca Reservoir in Montgomery County to the Potomac River began yesterday at 3:30 p.m., prompting County Executive Douglas M. Duncan to urge County residents to promote wise water use. Due to continuing drought and low groundwater conditions, the water release was made to assure Washington metropolitan area water supplies and Potomac environmental flow recommendations. Although a water supply release has been made, there is no change to the drought "WATCH" condition first issued on February 20, 2002, and water supplies remain adequate.
“This region has not seen such prolonged dry conditions since 1999, and groundwater levels are at record lows,” said Duncan. “It’s important, not only now, but year-round as well, to practice wise water use both outside and inside the home. Residents can be mindful of their water use by watering lawns in early morning, cleaning driveways and sidewalks using brooms rather than running water, running dishwashers and clothes washers only when full, turning off water when brushing teeth, and following other common sense practices.”
Prior to the current release, the Little Seneca Reservoir was 98 percent full. Residents could notice a change in the reservoir’s water level of up to a few inches, depending on how many days the water release continues.
While the majority of County residents receive their water from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and currently have no restrictions on their water use, other residents who obtain their water from groundwater or other smaller water supply systems are already experiencing water use restrictions. Information on water supply conditions for the Washington metropolitan region utilities may be found on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) web site at: http://www.mwcog.org/dep/water/supply/current_conditions.htm.
The Washington region operates under a four-stage, regional drought response plan adopted by the COG Board of Directors in June 2000. The stages are "NORMAL," "WATCH," "WARNING," and "EMERGENCY." Movement from one stage to the next is based on common regional triggers. The "WATCH" may be lifted and a return to "NORMAL" declared once sufficient rainfall has occurred in the Potomac River basin for 15 days and if there is an improving precipitation outlook.
The "WATCH" level is the first notification stage of the region's water supply and drought plan, triggered by at least moderate drought conditions in the Potomac River basin. The drought "WATCH" applies to the entire region, including the 95 percent of the Washington area obtaining water from the Potomac River system. The Potomac River system consists of the free-flowing Potomac River above Chain Bridge, the Occoquan Reservoir, and the Patuxent River reservoirs, further supplemented during extreme low flow by the Jennings Randolph and Little Seneca Reservoirs.
Not likely at this time, the "WARNING" stage would be reached when the combined storage of the Jennings Randolph and Little Seneca reservoirs drops below 60 percent of capacity for five consecutive days, or a five percent probability of unmet unrestricted water demand over the next one to two months. Voluntary water restrictions would be implemented at that time.
Even more unlikely would be the drought "EMERGENCY," declared only when there is a 50 percent chance that demand would exceed available water supply over the following month. The possibility of the Washington region ever reaching this stage is very small. An "EMERGENCY" would require mandatory water restrictions. If daily demand could not be satisfied, the region's water agencies would share water among themselves at predetermined levels.
For more information on wise water use, check the County’s website at www.askDEP.com. For information on the water release, contact Erik Hagen, Interstate Commission on Potomac River Basin (301) 984-1908 X116 or (301) 538-7044 Curtis Dalpra, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (240) 401-6730.