Rockville Joins Metro D.C. Communities in Calling for Wise Water Use
June 4, 2026
The City of Rockville is asking residents and businesses to conserve water under a regional drought watch issued Wednesday, June 3 by the Drought Coordination Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
The regional drought watch applies to nearly 6 million residents across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia. COG issued the watch following unusually dry conditions that are expected to persist despite recent rainfall.
While the Potomac River and backup reservoirs currently have an adequate supply of water, residents and businesses are encouraged to take simple and voluntary steps to reduce water use and help protect the region’s water resources if dry conditions continue.
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A drought watch calls for voluntary water conservation measures, but worsening conditions could lead to a drought warning with water restrictions. Since the regional drought plan was adopted in 2000, the region has not entered the drought warning stage.
The city’s water treatment plant, on the banks of the Potomac River, serves 70% of Rockville, or about 13,500 accounts and 54,000 residents. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission serves the remainder of the city.
The region’s last drought watch took place from July 2024-June 2025. COG said the region has experienced record-breaking high temperatures from March through April, along with periods of historically low streamflow. The Potomac River reached its lowest level during that period, based on 130 years of data. The region also has a two-year precipitation deficit of nearly 8 inches.
COG Executive Director Clark Mercer said the region has not seen such extreme dry conditions in about two decades, when leaders and COG first established a regional drought response plan.
“During the Drought Watch, we’re asking the public to help by incorporating simple, water-saving actions into their daily routines,” Mercer said.
Rockville’s Department of Public Works will implement water conservation practices in its preventive maintenance activities, and the water treatment plant will continue to monitor Potomac River conditions and water demand closely.
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Simple tips to limit indoor and outdoor water use include:
- Reduce showers to less than five minutes.
- Turn off water while brushing teeth or shaving.
- Wash full loads of dishes and laundry.
- Fix plumbing leaks, especially toilets and faucets.
- Monitor watering lawns, plants and shrubs.
- Sweep sidewalks and driveways instead of using a hose.
- Avoid washing your car or use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
A detailed list of water conservation tips can be found at mwcog.org/wisewater.
For more information about COG, drought conditions in the region and other resources, visit mwcog.org/environment/planning-areas/water-resources/drinking-water-and-drought-monitoring/current-drought-conditions.
Contact Sydney Wright at swright@mwcog.org or 202-962-3209 for more information.
Read the original article at rockville