EMERGENCY WATER MAIN REPAIR
Feb 08, 2026 | 05:30 AM

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

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

Northbound South Capitol Street Lane Closure Begins April 13

April 12, 2012

(Washington, DC)–The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), in coordination with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), is set to begin construction on South Capitol Street SE as part of the Clean Rivers Project.

Beginning Friday, April 13, 2012 through Monday, December 31, 2012, weather permitting, crews will be working in one northbound lane on South Capitol Street near Anacostia Drive.

This portion of the work will be performed in support of Division A of the Clean Rivers Project (Blue Plains Tunnel). Specifically, crews will begin construction of the Poplar Point Junction Shaft along the tunnel. Hours of operation will be from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Impacts:
* One northbound lane on South Capitol Street will remain
closed throughout this portion of the work.
* During abbreviated periods, there will be up to two lane
closures on South Capitol Street.
* Some traffic stops and delays within the vicinity of the
project area are anticipated.

Temporary traffic signs have been set up throughout the area to alert motorists to the upcoming lane closure.

Project Details
DC Water is implementing its Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) for the District’s combined sewer system. The LTCP comprises a system of tunnels and diversion sewers for the capture of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to Rock Creek and the Anacostia and Potomac rivers for treatment at DC Water’s Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. Implemented under a Federal Consent Decree between the United States, District Government and DC Water, the LTCP is divided into several contract divisions; the entire project, however, will reduce CSOs annually by 96 percent throughout the system and by 98 percent for the Anacostia River alone.

###

About DC Water
The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), is an industry leading multi-jurisdictional regional utility that provides drinking water, wastewater collection and treatment to more than 500,000 residential, commercial and governmental customers in the District of Columbia, and also collects and treats wastewater for 1.6 million customers in Montgomery and Prince Georges counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia.

DC Water’s service area covers approximately 725 square miles and the company operates the world’s largest advanced wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 370 million gallons per day and has a peak capacity of 1.076 billion gallons per day.

Please visit dcwater.com/cleanrivers for more information on the Clean Rivers Project.

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

Map of lane closure
Traffic Advisory: Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW Lane Closure Beginning Jan 19

Beginning on or about January 19, 2026, weather permitting, DC Water will implement a temporary lane closure on Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW b

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.