DC Water today announced the launch of Pure Water DC, a groundbreaking program designed to strengthen the District’s water supply resilience and secure a second source of drinking water for the nation’s capital. This effort comes in response to growing risks posed by reliance on a single water source—the Potomac River—and the Washington Aqueduct, which currently supplies 100% of DC Water’s drinking water.

“Any disruption to the Potomac River or the Aqueduct would have catastrophic consequences—not just for Washington, DC, but for the entire region,” said David L. Gadis, CEO and General Manager of DC Water. “Pure Water DC is planning ahead, investing wisely, and ensuring that our customers, our economy, and our national security are protected. This is not optional—it’s essential.”

To kick off this initiative, DC Water convened a panel discussion along with industry experts, utilities, and federal and state regulators from across the region. The panel explored practical ways to make our water supply more resilient, including advanced water reuse —a growing solution nationwide to address vulnerabilities in the water supply. This method relies on advanced treatment processes to purify water to drinking standards so it can be safely recycled for various purposes.

“Last year’s close call exposed a critical vulnerability, when we came within 30 minutes of exhausting our water supply on the eve of Independence Day —a near crisis that affected nearly a million residents and visitors,” said Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes, Chair of DC Water’s Board of Directors. “We cannot allow that to happen again. Pure Water DC is our answer to ensure water resilience.”

The Pure Water DC strategy lays out a portfolio of solutions to address this vulnerability, including:

• Exploring advanced water reuse at DC Water’s Blue Plains facility as a drought-proof, cost-effective second source of water.
• Safeguarding the current source and optimizing DC Water’s distribution system.
• Adding local storage and collaborating on long-term regional emergency storage efforts, such as Travilah Quarry in Maryland and others in Virginia.

DC Water has committed $21 million in seed funding over the next three years to pilot technologies, conduct research, and engage regulators and the public. A key component of this work will be the Pure Water DC Discovery Center, scheduled to break ground in 2026, which will serve as a hub for innovation, education, and collaboration.

Pure Water DC’s Discovery Center will contribute research and data as part of an ongoing feasibility study by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to accelerate understanding of how water reuse can strengthen the region’s water supply.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP) also designated Pure Water DC as a WRAP action, joining dozens of other priority initiatives to advance water reuse nationwide.

“EPA proudly welcomes DC Water to our WRAP family, strengthening our network and reinforcing our commitment to secure water solutions,” said Andrew Sawyers, Director of EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management. “DC Water’s WRAP action emphasizes collaboration, pulling together local, federal, and regional partners to explore solutions to their water supply challenges.”

A 2024 study by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin estimated that a major disruption to the region’s water supply could result in $15 billion in regional economic losses in just the first month. With more volatile weather patterns, extreme drought, and growing demand—including data centers—these risks are increasing.

Pure Water DC is not just a DC Water initiative—it’s a regional call to action. The program invites collaboration among utilities, agencies, and stakeholders across the Washington Metropolitan Area to build a resilient water future together.

For more information and to view the full strategy, visit dcwater.com/purewaterdc.