Investments in Infrastructure Improvements making a difference in flood prone areas

Today, DC Water and the District are partnering to educate DC residents about the risk of flooding during an event at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library. The event, being held from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., will include multiple District agencies as well as other local and federal partners.

The District is experiencing more frequent and intense severe weather events, and with summer approaching now is the time to be prepared. During heavy rains, the stormwater runoff can exceed the sewer system’s capacity with nowhere for the water to go. This contributes to street flooding, sewer back-ups, and combined stormwater and sewage overflows released into our local rivers.

DC Water is urging residents to take steps to prevent your home from damage with our Guide to Sewer Backups and Flooding, including:

• Install Backflow Prevention Devices
• Install Sump Pumps in Basements
• Ensure Gutters, Downspouts, and Splash Pads are clear and direct water away from the home
• Perform Regular Maintenance on your drainage system
• Purchase Sewer Backup Insurance and Flood Insurance

In recognition of changing weather conditions, DC Water is also investing in infrastructure to mitigate neighborhood flooding, expand the capacity of the sewer system, and protect facilities critical to maintaining water and sewer services.

Since 2023, the completion of the Northeast Boundary Tunnel (NEBT) has helped to prevent flooding in DC neighborhoods prone to this problem. Last month, over three days of heavy rainfall, the Anacostia River Tunnel System, including the NEBT, captured 168 million gallons of combined sewage and stormwater. The overflow, instead, was gradually released to be treated at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility with no overflows being released into the Anacostia River.

Construction is also underway on the Potomac River Tunnel and soon the Piney Branch Tunnel, which will help to prevent overflows into the Potomac River and Rock Creek, respectively. These overflows can contribute to flooding when released into local waterways during severe weather events with rising water levels in rivers and creeks.

Work is also underway at Blue Plains to construct a floodwall that would protect it from being inundated in a 500-year flood event. Approximately half of the wall has been completed, with the remaining three segments still to be constructed.

Join us at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library to learn more about what you can do to protect your home and property.

In the U.S., flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster. In the District, flooding poses a significant hazard. That’s why it’s important to stay alert and be prepared.

This is the third consecutive year of Flood Awareness Week which started on June 8 and continues through June 14.

View our website at dcwater.com/flooding for more tips and information, and go to the District Department of Insurance, Securities, and  Banking for expert guidance about how to protect yourself.