What We Do
Letter From GM
Dear Customer,
I understand you may have questions or concerns because of recent news reports on lead in drinking water. I'm writing to respond, and to let you know all of us at DC Water share the goal of preventing lead exposure.
In the District, drinking water is essentially lead-free when it leaves the treatment plant and flows through the distribution system. But lead can enter drinking water that travels through a lead service pipe, lead solder or household plumbing containing lead.
Here are the common sources of lead in household water:
- Lead service pipe: The pipe that connects the water main in the street to your household plumbing. A portion of this pipe is in public space (DC Water's responsibility) and a portion is on private property (yours). A "partial" lead service pipe is where a portion of the pipe is replaced, but a portion remains in public or private property.
- Lead solder: Connects pipes in home plumbing.
- Brass faucets, valves or fittings: Can contain up to eight percent lead.
- Galvanized iron pipes: A type of household plumbing that can be a source of lead in homes that have, or had, a lead service pipe.
To comply with federal law, DC Water routinely collects water samples from household taps and tests these for lead, particularly in households with lead service pipes. Federal law requires that at least 90 percent of the households tested have water below 15 parts per billion lead. Testing has shown our water to comply with federal lead standards since 2005, and the results have even improved over time. This is good news, and we believe it is the result of changes in water treatment that reduce the release of lead from pipes and other sources.
DC Water understands that lead levels can vary among households. We want you to be informed about potential lead sources and ways to protect your family. If you are pregnant or have children under six at home, it's especially important to use filtered water for drinking and cooking unless you know that your service pipe and household plumbing are completely lead-free. If replacing pipes and household plumbing is not an option, many water filters are effective in removing lead. Be sure to check the label or contact the manufacturer to confirm the filter is certified for lead removal.
Please see the illustration of the District's drinking water process and where lead may enter the water.
If you are interested in free lead testing or information about your water service pipe, we encourage you to contact us at (202) 354-3600. If you have a lead service pipe on private property and are interested in replacing it, we can coordinate replacing the portion in public space at the same time.
As always, we're here to answer your questions.
George S. Hawkins, General Manager
gmsuggestions@dcwater.com
1) WHERE DOES DRINKING WATER COME FROM?
 ESSENTIALLY NO LEAD FOUND The District of Columbia's drinking water is drawn from the Potomac River by the Washington Aqueduct, a federal agency. |
2) WHO TREATS DRINKING WATER?
 ESSENTIALLY NO LEAD FOUND The Washington Aqueduct is responsible for water treatment and adds orthophosphate (a food-grade chemical) to minimize the release of lead from service pipes and household plumbing. |
3) WHO DISTRIBUTES DRINKING WATER? ESSENTIALLY NO LEAD FOUND DC Water distributes the water to homes and businesses through 1,300 miles of pipes in the District. |
4) WHERE CAN LEAD BE FOUND? POSSIBLE LEAD Lead can enter your water if you have a lead service pipe or household plumbing with lead. Orthophosphate can reduce lead release from these sources. |