The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), District government and WASA announced plans to implement enhancements to protect the Potomac and Anacostia rivers from storm water runoff. The improvements are part of a Municipal Storm Water (MS4) Permit being renewed for the City by EPA.

WASA’s responsibility is to coordinate the cleaning of catch basins in the District. WASA already regularly cleans the 25,000 catch basins and uses two skimmer boats to regularly clean the Anacostia and Potomac rivers, removing more than 600 tons of trash each year from the rivers.

The announcement calls for coordinated efforts among many agencies, including the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), District Department of Transportation (DDOT), and Department of Public Works (DPW) and includes measures such as encouraging green roofs and water gardens, achieving optimal tree canopy, improving street sweeping, enforcing regulations regarding illicit discharge of pollutants and improving trash removal.