Types of Water Emergencies
What Is a Water Emergency?
A water emergency is any event that disrupts the normal supply of clean water to your home. Water emergencies can be caused by:
Home emergencies, such as:
- Leaky pipes
- Frozen pipes
- Leaky appliances
Water system emergencies, such as:
- Chemical spills
- Broken water mains
- Power outages
- Failure of water storage tanks or other equipment
- Treatment plant breakdowns
- Water contamination
- Natural disasters, such as:
- Storms
- Floods
- Tornadoes
- Forest or brush fires
- Droughts
- Earthquakes
- High winds
If you wish to report a water emergency or get immediate information about an emergency in your area, call the Service Authority at (703) 335-7982.
A Water Emergency Can Be Serious
The quality and the quantity of your drinking water may be affected by a water emergency. For example:
Less water may be available due to drought, overuse, etc.
The water supply may be polluted with sediment, sewage, toxic substances, etc.
Storage tanks may be contaminated, damaged or destroyed.
Power lines may be downed, making electric pumps unusable.
Water pipes may freeze or be broken, shutting off the water flow.
Related Emergencies
Sometimes a water emergency is accompanied by other kinds of emergencies. For information on how to prepare for a general emergency and what to do in an emergency, visit your local government's official emergency information page:
You can also find general information about emergency preparedness here:
