DCWASA Tests Pumps This Week That May Affect Pressure In Ward 5

March 26, 2003

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DCWASA) has begun several capital improvements to enhance the quality of our drinking water system and its infrastructure. In our ongoing efforts, over the next four days, we will be testing pumps that send water to you. The tests will be conducted to pumps that service our customers in Ward 5. We are doing this to see what improvements may be needed to them so that the pumps will continue to run at an optimal standard in delivering service to your homes and businesses.

While doing this, we will take some of the pumps out of service for short periods of time that may (or may not) impact your water pressure. In any event, we wanted to alert you that you might see lower water pressure during this testing period (click on the attachment below for the schedule).

ACTION PLAN
As the table in the attachment outlines, we have identified 9 locations (fire hydrants) to place pressure recorders over this 4-day period. Three 1 - 3 hour time periods have been chosen beginning Thursday, March 27 and ending Sunday, March 30 when pumps supplying your pressure will be taken off-line. These time periods were chosen in an effort to provide DCWASA with the necessary data for identifying the demand conditions that can cause the pressure problems. In other words, we need to test the distribution system when very few customers are using water (midnight - 3AM) and when demand is very high (6AM - 7AM).

Customers who experience a difference in water pressure should call the 24-hour Customer Service center (202-612-3400). This also helps us in our analysis for this evaluation.

As always, we thank you for your consideration in this regard while we make improvements to serve you better!

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