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WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- The water main repairs that last week caused water use restrictions for nearly two million WSSC customers in Prince Georges and Montgomery counties have raised questions about the state of water infrastructure and its ability to handle growing water demand.

Now a blast of hot weather that one meteorologist describes as a once in a decade heatwave is raising the same questions about the electric infrastructure that provides so much of the nation's power needs.
The WSSC said Monday it awaits the results of water and structural tests to see if the water main repairs are strong enough to handle regular demand.

"After we get those results, we will make a determination on lifting the water restrictions," said WSSC spokeswoman Lynn Riggins. As of Monday night, those restrictions remained in place.

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies believes spending has to increase markedly on water infrastructure to keep up with coming demand. It estimates needed spending at about half a trillion dollars in the next 20 years.

"If we don't we're going to experience issues and problems like we've seen in Montgomery County...more often," said the association's Ken Kirk.

"We have not taken care of our infrastructure," he told 9NewsNow.

"We all need to value water to a much higher degree," he said.

Area utilities said Monday they were prepared for a week of record-breaking heat, but asked consumers to conserve.

Among recommendations designed to prevent shortages, the power companies are telling customers to keep their shades lowered during the day, to limit the use of big power using items until night, and to try to live with thermostats set at 78 degrees.