An expansion of moderate drought conditions has been observed in the District of Columbia area, as revealed in a report released on Thursday. This comes as rainfall levels remain 7 to 9 inches below the normal average for this year, raising concerns among experts regarding the impact on water supply.
The recent report from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows an expansion of “moderate drought” – the first level of drought out of four – in the broader region surrounding the district. Other designations for areas include “abnormally dry” and “none,” which are not classified as drought.
The low water levels in the region are particularly noticeable when measuring the flow rates in the Potomac River. The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin began daily drought monitoring on Monday after detecting low flow rates in a part of Maryland.
The flow level dropped to 1,980 cubic feet per second, falling below the threshold of 2,000 cubic feet per second for daily monitoring. By Wednesday, the flow rate had rebounded to 2,090 cubic feet per second.
However, the unusually low water levels have led experts to express concerns about the water supply, which could result in tap water having distinct tastes and smells.
In a report on June 2, the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin warned that the water supply was lower than in previous years, but currently it is deemed “sufficient.” The report revealed that precipitation in the Potomac basin was 2.4 inches lower than usual in May, with a cumulative deficit of 6.5 inches for the year ending on May 31.
“Currently, the water flow in the Potomac River is sufficient to meet the water demands of the Washington metropolitan area without requiring releases from upstream reservoirs. However, in the event of low-flow conditions, the area is well-prepared to prevent water supply shortages with hydrological drought-contingency plans,” the report stated.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission has informed residents in the area that they might notice “an earthy taste” in tap water due to algal activity resulting from warmer weather and low water levels.
The commission assured the public on Twitter that despite the taste and odor issues, the water remains safe.
“This temporary change is not harmful and is due to an increase in a naturally occurring substance, Geosmin, caused by warmer weather and low water levels in the Potomac River,” the commission stated.
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