DC Water Protects the Environment on Earth Day…and Every Day

April 22, 2013

Today is Earth Day and hundreds of millions are celebrating. DC Water joins the celebration, today and every day.

“Each day DC Water is working to protect the health of our waterways and the people who live in the region,” said DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins. “DC Water provides safe drinking water, collects the water after millions of people use it, and cleanses it before returning it to the environment, while also reclaiming the nutrients for beneficial reuse.”

In addition to these daily critical services, DC Water is investing in state-of-the-art technology on the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. Three massive environmental projects, at a cost of more than $4 billion, are underway, to:
• significantly reduce combined sewer overflows,
• further reduce nitrogen in the water discharged back to the Potomac River, and return the nutrients back to the land, and
• create energy from the wastewater process using anaerobic digestion.

DC Water educates the public on conservation and environmental protection throughout the year with school programs, tap water outreach, and special events. During the month of April, DC Water is sharing information about water conservation at several venues. This week DC Water will be at the following locations:

U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Wednesday, April 24
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Thursday, April 25
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

In addition, DC Water participated in the Anacostia Watershed Society’s Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling’s “Earth Day, Fun Day” and a river clean-up event hosted by the Alice Ferguson Foundation, providing volunteers and skimmer boats to clean the waterways.

For more information about DC Water’s outreach activities, please contact Emanuel Briggs, Manager, Public Outreach at 202-787-2003 or Emanuel.Briggs@dcwater.com.

Latest News

Photo of Potomac River at the overflow location

Hundreds of Sampling Results Confirm Return to Normal Bacteria Levels in Potomac River

DC Water has outlined its next steps to complete the environmental cleanup and its plan for continued water quality monitoring this summer, as part of the ongoing response to January’s failure in the Potomac Interceptor sewer pipeline. The plan, submitted to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), is supported by extensive data from hundreds of samples.

crews removing soil in C & O Canal

Work continues to remove the remaining soil between locks 10 and 12 of the C & O Canal which was used as an emergency bypass while the Potomac Interceptor was repaired. Crews area also removing plants, trees, and shrubs in preparation for the long-term rehabilitation of the Potomac Interceptor.

Placeholder DC Water Image

DC Water has nearly completed construction site preparation for the Piney Branch Tunnel project, including tree removal, and installation of fences, erosion and sediment controls, utilities, and ...

Upcoming Meeting

Board of Directors Meeting

April 24, 2023

Monday 9:00 AM

Announcement

Placeholder DC Water Image
Piney Branch Parkway Temporary Closure and Relocation

DC Water has nearly completed construction site preparation for the Piney Branch Tunnel project, including tree removal, and installation of fences

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

Upcoming Events

May 16
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
May 20

Customer Service Center Announcement

Payment Plan Incentive: provides a credit back of 50% of the last 3 payments made. 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.