Emergency Dispatch
Please call our Emergency Dispatch to report problems such as water main breaks and service outages.
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 Prince William Water at (703) 335-7982.
Types of Water Emergencies
The quality and the quantity of your drinking water may be affected by a water emergency. For example:
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Drought
Less water may be available due to drought, overuse, etc.
-
Chemical Spills or Pollution
The water supply may be polluted with sediment, sewage, toxic substances, etc.
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Infrastructure Issues
Storage tanks may be contaminated, damaged or destroyed.
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Power Outages
Power lines may be downed, making electric pumps unusable.
-
Frozen Pipes
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: