2022 WMA Drought Exercise-Day 2: Afternoon Potomac flow and demand update (Wednesday, 2022-11-16)

Submitted by snummer on Wed, 11/16/2022 - 18:19

No additional operational changes are requested for this afternoon. SIMULATED flows at Little Falls are staying above 150 MGD. 

During yesterday’s practice call, the DCTC recommended entering the SIMULATED Drought Warning Stage of the MWCOG Drought Awareness Response Plan. This discussion occurred because the SIMULATED combined water supply storage in Jennings Randolph and Little Seneca fell below 60%.

Best regards, 
ICPRB CO-OP Drought Team

ACTUAL Daily flows:
Little Falls gage flow 2022-11-15: 9242 MGD (14300 cfs)
Little Falls gage flow 2022-11-16: 8919 MGD (est., based on recently available real-time data) (13800 cfs)
Note: Gage flow at Little Falls is measured after water supply withdrawals.
Point of Rocks flow 2022-11-15: 8014 MGD (12400 cfs)
Point of Rocks flow 2022-11-16: 6179 MGD (est., based on recently available real-time data) (9560 cfs)

ACTUAL Today's estimated production* (2022-11-16):
FW estimated production:126 MGD
WSSC estimated production:146 MGD
Washington Aqueduct estimated production:119 MGD
Total estimated production:391 MGD
LW total estimated consumption:21 MGD**
*Based on CO-OP daily demand forecasting models. FW includes the LW purchase and excludes Falls Church. Washington Aqueduct includes Falls Church
**LW total estimated consumption includes purchase and production water and is not included in the total production estimate

ACTUAL Tomorrow's estimated production* (2022-11-17):
FW estimated production:122 MGD
WSSC estimated production:146 MGD
Washington Aqueduct estimated production:121 MGD
Total estimated production:389 MGD
LW Total estimated consumption:21 MGD**
*Based on CO-OP daily demand forecasting models. FW includes the LW purchase and excludes Falls Church. Washington Aqueduct includes Falls Church
**LW total estimated consumption includes purchase and production water and is not included in the total production estimate

SIMULATED Recommended operations for today (DREX Day 2 - P.M.):
SIMULATED Fairfax Water:
Maintain maximum Griffith production from this morning and keep Potomac withdrawals steady. 

SIMULATED WSSC Water:
Maintain morning reduction of Potomac River withdrawals of 7 MGD and hold steady. 

SIMULATED Little Seneca Reservoir (release date, time, amount in MGD):
Maintain the Little Seneca release of 141 MGD. 

SIMULATED Washington Aqueduct:
Meet all demands from Little Falls in order to maintain the Great Fall flow-by. 

SIMULATED North Branch Reservoirs P.M. Summary:
No North Branch release at the moment. 

SIMULATED Loudoun Water Potomac River (PR) flow values for drought operations protocol (based on yesterday's flows):
QPR: 708 cfs
QPR, obs: 748 cfs
QPR, WS: 40 cfs

Note: Flow levels have dropped to a level that has triggered enhanced monitoring, per the drought operations manual of the Water Supply Coordination Agreement. When adjusted flow at Little Falls (adjusted flow is gage flow plus upstream withdrawals) less the environmental flow is less than twice the Washington metropolitan area withdrawals, the water suppliers will begin reporting yesterday's and today's withdrawals and this morning's reservoir storage volumes. ICPRB asks that communications be sent by 7:30 am and updates sent by 1:00 pm. Reporting can be submitted through www.icprbcoop.org, by email to coop@icprb.org, or by telephone by leaving a message with the CO-OP operations number at 301-274-8132. Monitoring emails can be viewed at http://icprbcoop.org/products/monitoring-reports. Thank you for your contribution to the monitoring efforts.