District residents can comment on two proposals and a resolution being considered by the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) Board of Directors at community meetings in April and May.

One proposal would expand the WASA Customer Assistance Program (CAP) by exempting eligible tenants’ first 400 cubic feet of water consumption from water service charges effective June 1, 2004. This exemption is currently available only to qualifying homeowners. The other proposal would establish new rates for retail water and sewer service and would result in an increase of approximately $1.83 for the typical residential customer who uses 6,200 gallons of water a month.

The Board is also seeking public comment on a lead service line replacement policy resolution that would direct WASA to remove all known lead service lines from public space and replace them with EPA-approved service lines by September 30, 2010. A copy of the resolution, adopted by the Board at its April 2 meeting, is attached.

The community meetings will be held at the following times and locations:

April 26, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Francis A. Gregory Library, 3660 Alabama Ave., SE
May 3, 6:30 pm– 8:30 pm, Chevy Chase Branch Library, 5625 Connecticut Ave., NW
May 19, 6:30 pm– 8:30 pm, Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Branch Library, 1701 8th Street, NW

Written comments on the CAP change rate increase will be accepted until April 16, 2004, and the deadline for written comments on the rate increase and the lead replacement resolution is May 28, 2004. Comments should be sent to WASA, Office of the Secretary, 5000 Overlook Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20032, or lmanley@dcwasa.com.

The two proposals were published in the January 31 and February 6, 2004 editions of the District of Columbia Register and also may be viewed on the WASA website, www.dcwasa.com.