News Nearby: New Water Main Leak in Chevy Chase Lake

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 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.

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."