DC Water crews continue to investigate the cause of flooding in the Shaw neighborhood that occurred on Sunday, June 14. Following a period of intense rainfall, several residents reported basement flooding, and in some cases water was reportedly coming up through household plumbing fixtures and drains.

In response, DC water has:

1. Checked and cleaned all of the catch basins and grates in the 900 block of P Street, NW and the nearby alley. They are all fully opened and operating properly.

2. Inspected the 12-inch sewer main that serves the impacted block. No obstructions have been found in the line.

Currently, the Authority has expanded its investigation to a wider area and continues to assess the sewers and laterals for any blockage or other issue that may have contributed to the flooding. Engineers are also conducting their own assessment to determine if there are measures property owners can take to control overland flooding.

Additional rain is in the forecast for this weekend and DC Water crews will be deployed to monitor conditions in the neighborhood. The primary concern is intense rainfall in a short amount of time, which can overload the undersized sewers in some older sections of the District. The planned Northeast Boundary Tunnel, part of the DC Clean Rivers Project, will greatly increase the capacity for stormwater storage and will mitigate flooding in low lying neighborhoods. Construction of the tunnel was accelerated as recommended by the Task Force on the Prevention of Flooding in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park and it is now scheduled to be completed in 2022.

Residents who experience flooding, or see standing water and clogged storm drains, are asked to call DC Water’s 24-hour Command Center at 202-612-3400.