WSSC finally addresses water main break at Old Georgetown Rd. & Woodmont Ave. in Bethesda

A water main break in the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Avenue was finally tackled by a crew from the WSSC water utility last night. The leak was now being measured in weeks rather than hours or days, and had caused persistent pooling of water in the intersection. WSSC repaired a significant water main break only a couple of blocks away on Wisconsin Avenue last week, where the roadway was in such bad shape that the utility had to resurface the street in the affected area.

WSSC is aware of ongoing water main break on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda

Water continued to flow in the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda on Wednesday. But water utility WSSC says it is aware of the leak, and has put the location on its list of repairs. "We're coordinating with nearby businesses and apartment buildings to help minimize any water service interruptions," WSSC told me via Twitter. A WSSC crew completed repairs to a major pipe break about a block away on Tuesday, which required a full resurfacing of the block of Wisconsin Avenue in question.

WSSC repairs damage to Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda (Video + Photos)

Water utility WSSC led a major repair effort overnight in Bethesda, to get Wisconsin Avenue back into shape between Old Georgetown Road and Montgomery Avenue. The roadway was damaged by a water main break on Monday. WSSC removed the damaged section of 8' pipe from below the street yesterday, and then made preparations to resurface the road. A WSSC crew, contractors, and the Maryland State Highway Administration were all on the scene Tuesday night into this morning, resurfacing the street in front of the Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel. 

Water main break on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda

There appears to be a water main break at the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. It has been bubbling up for about a week, and there is enough standing water to create a splash when cars drive through it. As of this writing, water utility WSSC has not yet sent a crew to repair it. Be on the lookout if you are driving or walking in that area.

Bethesda CVS Pharmacy reopens after extended closure due to water outage

The CVS Pharmacy at 7235 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda has reopened, after an unscheduled and extended closure. A water main break on January 6, 2025 left the store without water service. Utility WSSC stated on January 7 that it had restored service to customers in that vicinity, but the store remained closed for weeks beyond that. CVS cited a water outage as the reason for the closure. WSSC has not elaborated further on the matter since January 7, but recently announced that its crews have responded to 414 water main breaks so far this month.

Bethesda CVS Pharmacy remains closed a week after water main break

The CVS Pharmacy at 7235 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda remained closed yesterday, a week after a water main break across the street from the store on Wisconsin Avenue. Early on the morning of January 7, 2025, water utility WSSC posted on Twitter that it expected water service to be restored to customers impacted at 1:35 AM. WSSC has not posted any further updates about this particular water main break since, but the CVS has not reopened.

WSSC repairs downtown Bethesda water main break ahead of snowstorm

Water utility WSSC finally got around to addressing the water main break at the intersection of Arlington Road and Bethesda Avenue last night, as the area prepares for another shift in temperatures this weekend. The water main rupture first became apparent last Monday night, December 30, 2024. A WSSC crew got to it just in time last evening, as the plunging temperature threatened to turn the pooling water at the intersection into ice. Expect more water main breaks this weekend, as we go from the twenties back up to a high of 36 degrees on Sunday, prior to the snowstorm arriving Sunday night.

Water main break in downtown Bethesda

Extreme temperature shifts over the last few days have brought predictable results in downtown Bethesda. Last night, an apparent water main break was visible at the intersection of Arlington Road and Bethesda Avenue. Water began pooling in that area as temperatures began dropping across the region early last evening. The mains under Bethesda Avenue have been a trouble spot for water utility WSSC frequently in recent years.

Water main break on Bethesda Avenue (Video + Photos)

A water main break occurred last night on Bethesda Avenue, between Arlington Road and Woodmont Avenue, in the area of Bethesda Row. Substantial pooling of water was evident, as well as a small gusher rising from the pavement. Temperatures have been unseasonably wide in variation over the last couple of weeks, with highs in the 70s often falling to lows near 40 degrees at night. Thus, it is not surprising to see water main breaks, even though they are more typical in winter months.

Water main break spawns sinkhole in Bethesda

A major water main break turned into a major sinkhole on Cromwell Drive in Bethesda, directly in front of Wood Acres Elementary School, on Tuesday. The sinkhole formed in the 5800 block of Cromwell, between Newington Road and Wiltshire Drive. In addition to causing a prolonged shutdown of the street in that area while a WSSC crew attempted to make repairs, the sinkhole blocked some residents into their driveways. This is, by far, the worst water main damage seen in the Springfield neighborhood in some time. It's fortunate no one was hurt or caught in their vehicle when this collapsed.

WSSC issues Boil Water Advisory for Cabin John, Glen Echo

The WSSC has issued a Boil Water Advisory for Cabin John and Glen Echo. A water main break in a 12-inch pipe running under MacArthur Boulevard caused water pressure in the line to drop to a level where contamination is possible. Customers in the area shown on the map above should bring water to a boil before using for drinking, brushing teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing baby food or formula, making ice, or as drinking water for pets. WSSC will test samples for contamination once repairs to the line are complete, and lift the advisory once the results show it is safe.

Water main breaks near Suburban Hospital leave residents without water since Tuesday

WSSC crew working on water main break at
Old Georgetown Rd. & McKinley St. last night

Two water main breaks near Suburban Hospital in Bethesda left customers on several nearby streets without water since noon on Tuesday. The two breaks are near the intersections of Old Georgetown Road and McKinley Street and Roosevelt Street at Rosewood Drive. According to one resident, a WSSC crew was able to initially fix the Roosevelt Street break, only to have the same pipe burst in a new location a few feet down the line. Streets impacted included McKinley, Roosevelt, Rosewood and Hazelwood Drive.

Last night, a large crew was working on the Old Georgetown break. WSSC says that the plummeting temperature of the Potomac River is a significant cause of water main breaks this time of year, in addition to major temperature changes as weather systems move through the area.

Icy conditions on Bethesda Avenue (Video+Photo)

There appears to be a water main break near the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Bethesda Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Water is running down Bethesda Avenue, and freezing as ice on the roadway between Wisconsin and Woodmont Avenues. Use caution or detour around this area if you can.

Water main break on Wisconsin Avenue in Friendship Heights (Photos)

There is a water main break on southbound Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355) in Friendship Heights. A WSSC crew was on-scene making repairs late this afternoon. The location is in front of the Highland House and the Barlow Building at 5454-5480 Wisconsin, between South Park and Willard Avenues as you near the Maryland-D.C. line.

WSSC repairs downtown Bethesda water main break

A WSSC crew responded Tuesday afternoon to the water main break that has left standing water around the intersection of Woodmont and Norfolk Avenues since last Friday. It took most of the evening to complete the repairs.