News Nearby: New Water Main Leak in Chevy Chase Lake

Update, Tuesday, March 26, 2:45 p.m.:

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission crews found a leak in a pipe joint in the 54-inch-in-diameter transmission main near 3217 Coquelin Terrace, in Chevy Chase on Tuesday, a WSSC news release said.

Crews are making plans to repair the leak, but there is no estimate how long it may take. The pipe is about 1.2 miles from, and is connected to, the water main that broke March 18, the release said.

Crews initially thought the leak might be in a relief valve, "but a closer look confirmed the leak was in the transmission main itself. WSSC workers have isolated a portion of the pipeline for repairs [and an] emergency contractor is standing by to begin making repairs," the release said.

While the main does have an acoustic fiber optic monitoring system, the system was "not designed to detect a leak like this. It detects the 'snapping' of steel wires embedded in the pipe that would signal that a pipe is distressed," the release said.

To report a water leak concern, call WSSC at 301-206-4002. The WSSC Mobile smartphone application also can be used to report problems and receive updates.

Original post, Tuesday, March 26, 1 p.m.:

One week after the massive water main break at Connecticut Avenue and Chevy Chase Lake Drive, a leak was discovered in a 54-inch-in-diameter water transmission main only a few blocks away, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission said in a news release.

The new leak was found in a wooded area near the 3200 block of Coquelin Terrace. A resident reported the leak to WSSC after seeing water on the ground Monday afternoon, the release said.

"After an inspector confirmed the leak, WSSC crews isolated a portion of the pipeline and shut it down Monday night," WSSC said in the statement. "Water is now being drained from the pipe and an emergency contractor will begin repairs as soon as possible. No customers are without water, and there is no need for any water use restrictions."

The leaking pipe is connected to the 60-inch-in-diameter water main that failed March 18. Both pipes were equipped in 2010 with an acoustic fiber optic system to alert WSSC of impending breaks. The system did not alert WSSC of the either of the recent leaks, the utility reported.

The acoustic fiber optic system "picks up [sound from] wires that have snapped within [a pre-stressed concrete cylinder] pipe to warn of potential breaks in the pipe. It does not pick up leaks," according to the release.

The undetected leaks do "not necessarily indicate any problem with [the acoustic fiber optic system]. It is much too early to determine the cause of the leak," the release said.