Five water main breaks occurred in the early morning hours of May 6 in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River. Crews from DC WASA continue to work to repair the breaks while crews from the DC Fire and EMS (FEMS) Department are ensuring that FEMS fire suppression ability is maintained. The DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency also is on site to coordinate response efforts and ensure that adequate resources are available.

Residents in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River are advised to conserve water – no car washing, lawn watering or other activities that use large volumes of water – until the repairs are completed.

In all, five water main breaks and one broken connector to a fire hydrant were reported this morning. Only two remain as active work zones. The details for each follow below. Initially, approximately 50 households were affected, though more may be impacted as work continues through the evening at the two remaining active workzones.

• Work to repair a 20-inch main break at 18th Street and Minnesota Ave. will continue through the evening. As a result, customers may experience low water pressure or no water service in an area that includes Minnesota Ave. from 18th to Good Hope Rd., SE; Good Hope Rd. from Minnesota Ave. to 14th Street, SE; T Street from 18th Street to Minnesota Ave., SE; and 17th Street from Minnesota to S Street, SE.
• Bryan Place and Bangor Road, SE – 8-inch main (Repairs completed)
• Morris Road and Mt. View Place, SE – 8-inch water main break (Repairs completed)
• F Street between Texas Avenue and Hilltop Terrace, SE –8-inch main (Repairs completed)
• 4th Street and Mississippi Avenue, SE –16-inch main may affect residents and Simon Elementary School.
• Atlantic Street between Livingston Road and Valley Avenue, SE – a 6-inch connector to a hydrant broke, flooding the basement of an apartment building. Two families were re-located. The fire hydrant was shut off. (Repairs completed)

DC WASA and the District Fire and Emergency Services Department (FEMS) have been working together since early morning to assess the impact of the water main breaks. FEMS crews assessed pressure of all the hydrants in the area to pinpoint which hydrants might experience low pressure. Crews also assessed the impact of schools, nursing homes and the hospital in the area. FEMS put into service seven specialized engine companies dedicated to water supply and extra personnel. For fire protection, there should not be a time when no water will be available at a given location, but water pressure may be diminished.

The investigation by DC WASA officials into the cause of the main breaks includes a review of work at the nearby Fort Stanton Reservoir, which may have affected the pressure in the distribution system.

For further information, call Michele Quander-Collins (DCWASA) at 202-787-2200 or Alan Etter (FEMS) at (202) 673-3331.