Home > Residents > Rockville's Water > Water System Upgrades Recommended

 Water System Upgrades Recommended
Improvements will Address Aging Infrastructure and New EPA Regulations

Water Projects | Frequently Asked Questions | Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
View Presentations to Mayor and Council: Water System | Water Rates
     
Próximos Proyectos del Sistema de Agua de la Ciudad de Rockville 
Preguntas más frecuentes acerca de las Mejoras en el Sistema de Aguas de Rockville 
洛城全市即将开展的供水改造工程

Just as homes, cars and appliances age, the City’s infrastructure and equipment ages too. To make sure the infrastructure continues to meet residents’ needs, Rockville is beginning a new initiative to replace and improve the water distribution system that serves homes, businesses and the fire hydrants across the city.

At the February 11 Mayor and Council worksession, City of Rockville staff proposed a plan to initiate a 15-year Water Line Replacement Program to replace 33 miles of pipe. On  average, 2.2 miles of pipe will be replaced each year for the next 15 years. An increase in water rates will be needed to fund the $67 million project. The proposal is part of an overall water system improvement plan, which includes water plant upgrades and replacement of aging water meters.  The City hopes to initiate an ongoing program that systematically replaces a portion of these aging water lines each year.

Rockville’s water distribution system consists of a network of water meters, storage tanks, fire hydrants, valves and pipes. Of the 180 miles of pipe in the distribution system, approximately 70 percent are cast iron installed before the mid 1970s. As cast iron pipes age, corrosion occurs. This effect, known as “tuberculation,” (see photo at right) reduces the interior pipe diameter, thereby lowering the flow through the pipe. After many years of buildup, tuberculation can impact the ability to meet fire flow demands.

Rockville has 1,369 fire hydrants, of which 51 (approximately four percent) are considered insufficient for fighting residential fires. Rockville also is experiencing a large number of water main breaks caused by the aging water pipes. In 2007, Rockville had a record 65 water main breaks in its distribution system, which cost approximately $250,000 to repair.

Besides fire suppression, Rockville’s water system supplies safe drinking water. In order to meet more stringent regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Maryland Department of Environment, Rockville also is conducting a study of its Water Treatment Plant.  The study will not be completed until the fall of 2008 and costs are estimated at approximately $15 million. Rockville must comply with EPA regulations by 2013.

Rockville is conducting an ongoing water meter replacement program. All commercial water meters have been replaced and all residential water meters will be replaced by the fall of 2009, completing the project. The meter replacement program will cost $5.25 million.

Staff will bring recommendations on how to fund the water system improvement to the Mayor and Council in early March. Approval of the replacement plan and the expected water fee increase will be included in the fiscal year 2009 budget, which begins July 1, 2008.