DC Water's
News & Updates

At DC Water, we understand the importance of keeping our community informed about our services, projects, and achievements. Our news web page serves as a reliable source for the latest information on a range of topics.

Map of emergency lane closure sutiland parkway se near Stanton Rd
30 April, 2025

Contractor to perform inspections in area of 54-inch sewer main failure 

DC Water in coordination with the District Department of Transportation will perform emergency work on Suitland Parkway Southeast near Stanton Road starting tonight as early as 7 p.m. and ending tomorrow morning at 5 a.m. Crews will be inspecting additional sections of a 54-inch stormwater main that failed last month.

In order ...

Tunnel Boring Machine named Mary undergoing Factory Acceptance Testing
28 April, 2025

Her name is Mary and she’s a tunnel boring machine (TBM) capable of cutting through hard rock and boring a tunnel 21 feet in width. This month, she completed factory acceptance testing in Germany and will head across the pond to DC to start work on the Potomac River Tunnel.

A team from DC Water and its contractor went to Schwanau, Germany, for the factory testing. Mary passed all the necessary ...

Head shot of Rabia Chaudhry Director of  Water Supply Resilience
21 April, 2025

DC Water’s efforts to build a more resilient water supply took a significant step forward with the announcement today of Rabia Chaudhry, PhD, PE, as the first Director of Water Supply Resilience. The new position reflects the importance and urgency surrounding the Authority’s reliance on the Potomac River as its only water source and the need for alternatives.

At DC Water, Dr. Chaudhry will lead ...

Photo of West Road where construction will take place
14 April, 2025

Beginning the week of April 21, 2025, DC Water will implement temporary traffic lane closures near Georgetown University’s Canal Road Northwest entrance to identify and mark underground utilities for the Potomac River Tunnel Project. The work is expected to take 3-5 weeks to complete, depending on weather conditions.  

To minimize disruptions to campus traffic, excavation activities will be ...

Map of Clara Barton Parkway near 495 with lane closures marked and site of incident damage
31 March, 2025

DC Water and its engineers will conduct an emergency inspection of a 78-inch sewer pipe located next to the Clara Barton Parkway. This follows an incident where a contractor working in the area accidentally drilled into the Potomac Interceptor sewer line, which transports 60 million gallons of wastewater each day. 

On Tuesday, April 1, between 8 a.m. and noon, crews will close a 50-foot single lane ...

Photo of water pipes
17 March, 2025

It’s that time of year, when you start your spring cleaning and DC Water does too! Beginning on March 24 through May 4, we’ll be disinfecting our 1300 miles of water lines. It’s part of routine maintenance every spring to keep the pipes clean and free of any harmful bacteria.

During this time, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Washington Aqueduct, which supplies water to DC Water, will temporarily ...

sinkhole on exit to South Dakota Avenue Northeast
12 March, 2025

DC Water crews are investigating a sinkhole located at the exit to South Dakota Avenue Northeast inbound from New York Avenue/Route 50. Due to the instability of the road, the exit is closed, and traffic is being diverted to alternate routes. 

The sinkhole is located in the area of a 42-inch stormwater line, a 21-inch sanitary sewer line, and a 20-inch water transmission line. DC Water has a team ...

contract for construction of the Potomac River Tunnel (PRT)
10 March, 2025

DC Water issues statement regarding the stopgap federal spending bill to revert spending to 2024 levels: 

DC Water distributes drinking water and provides for fire suppression to over a million permanent residents, daily commuters and visitors within the District of Columbia and to several federally owned properties in Arlington County, Virginia. The Authority also provides wastewater treatment for ...

Piney Branch
7 March, 2025

DC Water’s Piney Branch Tunnel Project is moving ahead with construction, the next phase of the Authority’s Clean Rivers initiative to improve the water quality in the Anacostia River, Potomac River, and Chesapeake Bay watershed. The project received approval from the National Park Service (NPS) following completion of the Environmental Assessment, including rigorous public review.  

The analysis ...

Picture of Chain Bridge at location of manhole where work will occur
7 March, 2025

On Saturday, March 8, DC Water will close the outbound lane of Clara Barton Parkway at Chain Bridge to inspect a section of the Potomac Interceptor, a major sewer line which crosses the Potomac River.

The lane closure will begin at 8 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. During the inspection, DC Water and its contractor will be working in the outbound lane past Chain Bridge to access the sewer line ...

Upcoming Meeting

Board of Directors Meeting

April 24, 2023

Monday 9:00 AM

Announcement

Tunnel Boring Machine named Mary undergoing Factory Acceptance Testing
Factory Testing Complete on DC Water’s first tunnel boring machine for the Potomac River Tunnel

Her name is Mary and she’s a tunnel boring machine (TBM) capable of cutting through hard rock and boring a tunnel 21 feet in width.

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
May 1, 2025
Thursday, 9:30 AM