Environmental Services
Water Conservation During Emergencies
Tips to Save Water During Emergencies
When there is a water main break or other water emergency, your water service may be affected or water pressure reduced. Here are some tips for conserving water during emergencies.
- Only use water when absolutely necessary.
- Toilets, clothes washers, and showers use the most water on average in households.
- Flush Less. Minimize toilet flushing during emergencies. Fill a milk jug or soda bottle and put it in your toilet tank to reduce the water used when you do flush.
- Hold the Laundry. Please delay doing laundry until after the water emergency is resolved.
- Shorter Showers. Encourage members of your household to take short showers during water emergencies. Turn off the water while soaping or shampooing.
- Reuse water as much as possible.
- If you have a rain barrel, you can use rain barrel water for toilet flushing. Remember NOT to drink rain barrel water, and do not use it for cooking or washing dishes.
- If you must wash dishes, fill a small tub with water and use that to wash the dishes.
When Water Service is Restored
In most cases, when the water pressure returns, you will need to run the cold water tap for a few minutes to clear the pipes. Use of hot water may draw discolored water into your hot water heater, prolonging a potential disruption. If after five minutes, you still notice a discoloration or strange odor, contact the water emergency hotline at 703-228-6555. A crew can be dispatched to flush the system through fire hydrants and/or at your meter location.
In the rare instance that additional actions are needed, residents will be informed directly through the County communication channels.
Find out more about the water main break on N. Glebe Rd.
Read more about Water Emergencies and Water Main Breaks.
Read more water conservation tips.
