GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Water is now being restored after crews worked to repair a pair of water main breaks along Clopper Road in Gaithersburg. The breaks have impacted hundreds of people and initially shut down roads in the area, which are now reopened.
Officials said Tuesday that about 200 customers were waiting for water to come back on after the first break was reported around 7:30 p.m.
While working to repair that break, WSSC discovered a second break on Clopper Road in the 12400 block, which is in Germantown. As a result of the water main issues, Northwest High School let students out early at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
WSSC Water tweeted Wednesday evening that they are now beginning to slowly restore water service to customers impacted and warned that discolored water is common after a water main break. Officials encouraged residents to read their guidelines for flushing pipes following the break.
"Discolored water may not be aesthetically pleasing, but it is safe to drink," the guidance reads in part, adding that it's often caused by sediment and mineral deposits in the pipes and that flushing the cold water pipes in your home or business usually clears up the discoloration.
The break in the 11500 block of Clopper Road forced closure in both directions, according to Montgomery County MD Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security (OEMHS). That road has since reopened, as of Wednesday evening.