确保华盛顿特区大都会区（WMA）有充足的饮用水供应这一关键问题，至少20年来一直是一个激烈辩论的主题，更多人对此感到担忧。对波托马克河（Potomac River）的依赖程度越来越高，这条河的流量波动极大，促使人们研究最具成本效益的方法，以确保延长供水可用性。WMA中的供水问题是多样而复杂的，代表着政治互动的问题以及水的实际短缺。对未来缺水问题的分析表明，尽管目前缺水的可能性很小，但未来缺水的风险很大。建议立即采取的一项行动是，为正在或计划从波托马克取水的所有公用事业公司制定标准会计程序。还讨论了以下主题:保护；修建更多水库，如布卢明顿水库: 波托马克河和水库之间的连接；废水回用；使用流量监测装置；以及该地区各政治派别之间的合作。包括21个参考文献、表格和图表。

The crucial issue of assuring an adequate potable water supply to the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area (WMA) has been a subject of intense debate for at least 20 years and of concern for many more. Increased reliance on the Potomac River, which is subject to extreme fluctuations in flow, prompted a study of the most cost-effective ways to ensure an extension of water supply availability. The water supply problems in the WMA are diverse and complex and represent problems of political interaction as well as actual shortages of water. An analysis of future water deficit problems shows that although current water shortage possibilities are minimal, a significant risk of future shortages exist. One immediate action suggested is to develop a standard accounting procedure for all utilities that are withdrawing or planning to withdraw water from the Potomac. The following topics are also discussed: conservation; construction of more reservoirs such as the Bloomington Reservoir: interconnections between the Potomac and the reservoirs; wastewater reuse; use of flow-monitoring devices; and cooperation between various political factions in the area. Includes 21 references, tables, figures.