Her name is Mary and she’s a tunnel boring machine (TBM) capable of cutting through hard rock and boring a tunnel 21 feet in width. This month, she completed factory acceptance testing in Germany and will head across the pond to DC to start work on the Potomac River Tunnel.

A team from DC Water and its contractor went to Schwanau, Germany, for the factory testing. Mary passed all the necessary requirements and is one of two TBM’s on the project. The tunnel is part of DC Water’s Clean Rivers Project, to reduce the amount of sewer and stormwater discharged into the Potomac during rain events.

“We ...

DC Water’s efforts to build a more resilient water supply took a significant step forward with the announcement today of Rabia Chaudhry, PhD, PE, as the first Director of Water Supply Resilience. The new position reflects the importance and urgency surrounding the Authority’s reliance on the Potomac River as its only water source and the need for alternatives.

At DC Water, Dr. Chaudhry will lead the resilience strategy, exploring additional resources to supply water and initiating the long term implementation. This work is essential to ensure reliable drinking water for more than 700,000 ...

Beginning the week of April 21, 2025, DC Water will implement temporary traffic lane closures near Georgetown University’s Canal Road Northwest entrance to identify and mark underground utilities for the Potomac River Tunnel Project. The work is expected to take 3-5 weeks to complete, depending on weather conditions.  

To minimize disruptions to campus traffic, excavation activities will be scheduled during non-peak hours, between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Most of the work will occur in the wooded area near the entrance, helping to reduce the impact on motorists and pedestrians. The process ...