EMERGENCY WATER MAIN REPAIR
Feb 08, 2026 | 04:30 AM

EMERGENCY WATER MAIN REPAIR
Feb 08, 2026 | 04:00 AM

EMERGENCY WATER OUTAGE
Feb 08, 2026 | 01:00 AM

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

Trench boxes at construction site for new pit accessing Potomac Interceptor Upstream

DC Water and its contractors continue to make progress constructing new access points to the Potomac Interceptor, one upstream of the damaged section, and an additional entry downstream to divert more wastewater flow from the pipe. These access points will allow crews to install a bulkhead, blocking flow in the pipe upstream of the collapsed area, keeping the site as dry as possible so crews can safely remove an extensive rock dam currently blocking the pipe.

Photo of giant rock and boulder removed

DC Water is releasing new findings regarding the environmental impacts following the January 19, collapse in a section of the Potomac Interceptor. Based on flow monitoring data collected before and after interim bypass pumping was activated, DC Water estimates approximately 243 million gallons of wastewater has overflowed from the collapse site.

Image of rock blockage taken by CCTV inside the Potomac Interceptor downstream of the collapse

Update on Extended Repairs, Safety Measures, and Water Quality Monitoring

Overnight CCTV inspection of the Potomac Interceptor revealed the blockage inside the collapsed sewer line is far more significant, showing a large rock dam stretching approximately 30 feet downstream of the original failure.

Upcoming Meeting

Board of Directors Meeting

April 24, 2023

Monday 9:00 AM

Announcement

Picture of new bike pedestrian path and traffic detour
New Path for Capital Crescent Trail Opens at Georgetown Waterfront Park

DC CLEAN RIVERS – POTOMAC RIVER TUNNEL PROJECT
If you bike, drive, or walk through Georgetown, we’ve got changes starting this week around the Potomac River Tunnel construction on Water Street NW. The Capital Crescent Trail has a new temporary detour through Georgetown Waterfront Park, open now for cyclists between 33rd and Potomac streets NW.

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
February 19, 2026
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.