JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
At approximately 4 a.m. Jan. 24, on the 9200 block of E. Hampton Dr. in Capitol Heights, Md., a 54-foot wide water main, burst. The pipe's contents promptly began spilling along the majority of surrounding roads and road-side establishments. By 5 a.m., neighboring law enforcement officials had responded to the scene and swiftly shut down a portion of southbound Interstate 95 between Ritchie Marlboro Road and Route 214. The section of interstate was closed for several hours while workers tried to shut off the exploded main's primary water supply.
The busted main's resulting case of decreased water pressure and water loss to the surrounding metropolitan area caused Joint Base Andrews to close for non-mission essential personnel for the remainder of the day.
Since the State of the Union Presidential Address occurred the same day as the water main break, the 1st Helicopter Squadron remained on base, said Col. Armando Fiterre, 811th Operations Support Squadron commander here. Crisis Action Teams also stayed behind, making sure base residents had access to portable latrines around base.
After water was restored, a 72-hour Boil Water Advisory was issued by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission in response to possible compromised water potability. The advisory will remain in effect until Thursday, Jan. 27.
The initial cause of the water main break remains under close investigation.
For additional information concerning water quality, contact the 779th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Bioenvironmental Engineering office at 240-857-3380 or, for information regarding additional water supplies, contact 301-981-5151.