Friday, February 6, 2015

BROWN WATER IN GERMANTOWN, MARYLAND WAS CAUSED BY RUPTURED FIRE HYDRANT



 BROWN WATER IN GERMANTOWN, MARYLAND WAS CAUSED BY RUPTURED FIRE HYDRANT


February 6, 2015

WASHINGTON, DC — Some Germantown, Maryland, residents may notice their tap water is a little brown Friday morning after a fire hydrant blew underground off of a water main.

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission spokesman Jerry Irvine says the fire hydrant near Clopper Mill Elementary School along Cinnamon Drive sustained damage at about 7 p.m. Thursday.

While the cause it not yet clear, Irvine says colder weather can cause more pressure in the pipes, which can lead to more pipes bursting.

All customers in the area still have water service and crews are working Friday morning to patch up the fire hydrant.

If you’re in this area and notice discolored tap water, Irvine recommends running all faucets at the same time. Start with the top floor faucets and work your way downstairs and run the tap for five or 10 minutes to clear your water lines, he says.