Bethesda residents awakened by DC Water boil water alert

Many Bethesda residents received a rude awakening just after 2:00 AM this morning, when DC Water issued a boil water alert for several neighborhoods in Northeast Washington. A government alert, of the type that would be used if a tornado or foreign missiles were approaching, was inexplicably sent to cell phones in parts of Maryland as well as the District. Water in Bethesda is provided by the WSSC, not DC Water, and so there is no need for concern about the water supply in Bethesda this morning. There's also no concern if you are in Spring Valley, the Palisades, Chevy Chase or other parts of Northwest Washington.

Beyond the inconvenience of waking people with a false alarm in the middle of the night, the alert gaffe is inevitably going to create confusion. If you are new to Bethesda, for instance, you might assume DC Water is your provider, and be wasting time boiling water this morning. 

For any readers who actually live in Northeast Washington, the affected communities under the boil water advisory are: Edgewood, Brookland, Fort Lincoln, Woodridge, Queens Chapel, Michigan Park and North Michigan Park. Full information from DC Water is available here.