COG declares regional Drought Watch, encourages wise water use

A Drought Watch was put into effect today by the Drought Coordination Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) following unusually dry conditions that are expected to persist despite recent rainfall. The regional Drought Watch applies to nearly six million residents across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

Officials stress that while there is currently an adequate supply of water in the Potomac River and backup reservoirs, residents and businesses are encouraged to practice wise water use by taking simple, voluntary steps to reduce water use and help protect the region's water resources if dry conditions persist.

Here are some simple tips residents can use to limit indoor and outdoor water use:

INDOOR

• Reduce shower length to under 5 minutes;
• Turn off water while brushing your teeth/shaving;
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes; and
• Fix any plumbing leaks - especially toilets and faucets.

OUTDOOR

• Monitor watering lawns, plants, and shrubs;
• Sweep sidewalks and driveways (instead of using a hose); and
• Avoid washing your car or instead use a commercial car wash that recycles water.

The region's last Drought Watch occurred between July 2024 to June 2025. This year, from March to April, the region experienced record-breaking high temperatures along with some periods of historically low streamflow levels. The Potomac River reached its lowest level during this time period, based on 130 years of data. In addition, the two-year precipitation deficit is almost 8 inches.

"Our region hasn't seen extremely dry conditions like this in about two decades when local leaders and COG first established a drought response plan to support coordination and communication regionwide," said Clark Mercer, COG Executive Director. "During the Drought Watch, we're asking the public to help by incorporating simple, water-saving actions into their daily routines."

A Drought Watch is an early advisory stage in the Regional Drought Response Plan. It is the level before the Drought Warning stage, when water restrictions would be encouraged. At the highest Emergency stage, jurisdictions and utilities may implement mandatory water use restrictions in a coordinated manner. Since the adoption of the regional drought plan in 2000, the region has not entered the Drought Warning stage.

Infographic of the Regional Drought Response Plan from top to bottom: The Normal stage calls for wise water use, the Watch stage calls for voluntary water conservation through wise water use, the Warning stage calls for voluntary water restrictions, and the Emergency stage calls for mandatory water restrictions.

"Due to years of planning and preparation, our water supply infrastructure is well-equipped to handle drought. Nevertheless, it makes sense for all of us to use water wisely to conserve this precious resource," stated Michael Nardolilli, the executive director of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB). The ICPRB is monitoring the Potomac River flow daily and working with several federal agencies, regional partners, and area water suppliers to assess the situation in real time. The Potomac River supplies 78 percent of the drinking water for the region.

"We're working closely with our regional partners to actively monitor conditions and protect our shared water resources," said WSSC Water General Manager and CEO Kishia L. Powell. "While our water supply remains stable, now is a great time for all of us to practice wise water use. By making simple, voluntary changes in daily routines, our customers can save water and money."

"The Washington Aqueduct stands fully ready and prepared to meet the operational demands of our region during these drought conditions," said Washington Aqueduct General Manager Rudy Chow. "However, managing our shared water resources is a collective responsibility. We rely on the community's awareness and voluntary actions to ensure long-term water resiliency for everyone."

"While our region has an adequate water supply to meet demands, the public can make a difference during these dry spells by using water wisely," said Fairfax Water General Manager Jamie Bain Hedges.

JURISDICTIONS IN THE COG DROUGHT WATCH:

District of Columbia

Suburban Maryland

Town of Bladensburg; City of Bowie; City of College Park; Charles County; City of Frederick; Frederick County; City of Gaithersburg; City of Greenbelt; City of Hyattsville; City of Laurel; Montgomery County; Prince George's County; City of Rockville; City of Takoma Park

Northern Virginia

City of Alexandria; Arlington County; City of Fairfax; Fairfax County; City of Falls Church; Loudoun County; City of Manassas; City of Manassas Park; Prince William County

MORE:

Drought Watch FAQs

COG's Current Drought Conditions web page

COG's Wise Water Use Campaign web page