Boil Water Advisory lifted for all customers

August 08, 2021

Protective actions given for those in the smaller impact area

Este aviso y más información están también disponibles en www.dcwater.com, y preguntas frecuentes bilingües se encuentran en www.dcwater.com/BWALiftSpanishFAQ.

All DC Water customers in the impact area under the boil water advisory can use tap water for all purposes after following the instructions provided below.

DC Water issued the boil water advisory as a conservative measure to protect public health, and we sincerely appreciate our customers’ patience while we took necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the tap water we deliver.

David L. Gadis, CEO and General Manager of DC Water, said, “Protecting the health and safety of our customers is our highest priority. We understand actions like these are very disruptive, but we will always put our customers’ safety first.”

DC Water lifted the boil water advisory after tests confirmed that drinking water meets all water quality safety standards. DC Water tested water samples from multiple sites in the affected area and has verified that the there is no risk of water contamination from the loss of pressure in some portions of the distribution system. Therefore, DC Water has ended the bottled water distribution.

Please see the interactive map atwww.dcwater.com or call the 24-Hour Command Center at (202) 612-3400 to verify if your address was in the affected area.

Customers residing in the previously affected area should take the following precautions before returning to normal water usage:

  • Run the cold water taps for 10 minutes (if water was not used at all during the advisory).
  • Discard food or ice prepared with water that was not boiled during the advisory.
  • Consult the owner’s manual to find out how to sanitize appliances and home filtration systems if used during the advisory.

On August 6, DC Water received one positive test from a sampling site located in the affected area. On August 7 and August 8, subsequent testing did not detect the presence of coliform bacteria contamination. 

In the late afternoon of Wednesday, August 4, 2021, crews closed valves in the area of 13th Street and Spring Road, NW in an effort to isolate a leak on a 36” water transmission line to make repairs, causing low or no water pressure to area homes. System pressure was restored and the 36” water transmission line has been repaired.

Please share this information with your friends and neighbors, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this public notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Please read the FAQ for action following the Boil Water Advisory which is located on the website.

DC Water will work with customers to answer questions and respond to additional issues following the Boil Water Advisory. Customers with water quality questions should contact the Drinking Water Division at (202) 612-3440 (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

All other questions or suggestions should be directed to DC Water Customer Service at 202-354-3600 (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or the 24-Hour Command Center at (202) 612-3400. Information is also available at www.dcwater.com and FAQs are provided at dcwater.com/BWAliftFAQ.

Latest News

Group Photo with homeowner

DC Water has hit a major milestone in its Lead Free DC (LFDC) program: the 10,000th lead service line replacement. To commemorate the achievement, we teamed up with Washington Football Legend and NFL Hall of Famer Darrell Green to surprise our honorary 10,000th replacement and homeowner. With this achievement, nearly 25% of the estimated lead service lines in the city have been replaced.

Map of construction area on Clara Barton Parkway near I495

DC Water will be doing construction as part of a sanitary sewer rehabilitation project on Clara Barton Parkway in Maryland from Sept 8 - Oct 10, 2025, which may cause delays inbound near the I-495 Beltway interchange. One lane will be closed in the work zone to reline an 800-foot section of the sewer line, known as the Potomac Inteceptor. Access to the inner and outer loops of the Beltway will remain available. Additional lane closure may be necessary intermittently through Oct 24, 2025.

Image of new pipe section with wastewater flowing

Major Milestone in Sewer Line Repair Near Great Falls

DC Water has completed the final connection on the rehabilitated section of the Potomac Interceptor near Great Falls, renewing an integral part of the region's sewer system. This achievement signals the new pipe section is now fully operational and represents a significant step in completing this complex and critical infrastructure project.

Upcoming Meeting

Board of Directors Meeting

April 24, 2023

Monday 9:00 AM

Announcement

Aerial View of Construction near Watergate Complex Shows cranes and construction of drop shaft underway
Scaffolding Installation Begins near Watergate Complex for Potomac River Tunnel Project

Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW Beginning September 23, 2025, to Mid-November 2025

DC Water is installing temporary scaffolding at the Rock Creek Trail site, west of the Watergate Complex. Trail users are advised to adhere to flagger instructions during installation.

Scaffolding installation is expected to be completed by September 26, 2025, and will remain in place until mid-November 2025.

Latest Blog Post
A helicopter lowers a drill rig to workers on the Potomac River.
DC Water begins drilling in Potomac River to explore options to rehab underwater sewer line
When one of your major sewer lines runs through the Potomac River, a backhoe and trencher won't do. That's why we've got helicopters carrying a 14-ton drill and workers suspended midair over the Potomac.
Upcoming Meeting
Date
October 16, 2025
Thursday, 9:30 AM

Upcoming Events

Customer Service Center Announcement

Payment Plan Incentive: provides a credit back of 40% of the last 3 payments made and in the new fiscal year 50% will be credited. Eligible participants are residential customers who have had an outstanding balance for 60 days or greater and with an outstanding balance of $500 or more.