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.

contract for construction of the Potomac River Tunnel (PRT)
26 November, 2024

Overnight, on Monday, December 2, through early morning on Tuesday, December 3, Gresham Place Northwest and part of Fifth Street Northwest will be closed to allow DC Water to conduct underground surveys in the area.  Crews will work through the night, from 7:30 p.m. until 5:00 a.m., to examine the surrounding soil conditions, and perform field inspections to get a clear picture of the underground ...

DC Water team in front of one of the reservoirs where Asheville gets its water.
25 November, 2024

For more than two weeks, DC Water’s team deployed to Asheville, North Carolina, to help the local water utility navigate recovery efforts following the devastating flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The team returned to DC and after a brief respite is back at work with lessons learned from their experience.

West Potomac Park Drive SW Intersection
15 November, 2024

(Washington, DC) – DC Water today announces the opening of West Potomac Park Drive SW, a new road constructed as part of the Potomac River Tunnel (PRT) Project. Beginning Monday, November 18, 2024, drivers and visitors will have another option to alleviate the partial closure of Ohio Drive SW. The road provides an easy way to get around the main construction site in West Potomac Park, which will ...

West Potomac Park Drive SW
15 November, 2024

(Washington, DC) – DC Water will open West Potomac Park Drive SW, a new road constructed as a part of the Potomac River Tunnel (PRT) Project, on Monday, November 18, 2024. West Potomac Park Drive will connect the partially closed Ohio Drive SW to a new traffic-signaled intersection at Independence Avenue SW and provides three lanes of traffic and sidewalks.

The new road will open for traffic in ...

Photo of four workers at NW DC home replacing the lead service line. Worker brings a ladder in.
31 October, 2024

Online public meeting series starts in November

DC Water is introducing a new webinar series starting in November to share progress reports and helpful information about its Lead Free DC (LFDC) program. The quarterly series is designed to engage the community with dedicated topics and speakers each session as part of DC Water’s ambitious effort to replace all lead service lines (LSLs) in the city.  ...

Workers replacing lead service line at a home in Northwest DC
17 October, 2024

Additional activities, pop-up event scheduled to highlight value of water   

DC Water joins utilities nationwide today asking the public to ‘Imagine a Day Without Water’ in a National Day of Action to raise awareness about the value of water and continued need to invest in water infrastructure. DC Water answered the call, recently topping more than 7,000 lead service line replacements in our Lead ...

View of the Alexandria Aqueduct
16 October, 2024

(Washington, DC) –As a part of DC Water’s Potomac River Tunnel Project, temporary traffic lane closures, trail detours, and parking restrictions will extend from Water Street Northwest to the Capital Crescent Trail. The work to identify underground utilities will move to the Capital Crescent Trail on or about Friday, October 18, 2024, after completion of utility investigations on Water Street ...

Piney Branch Tunnel Combined Sewer Outflow being discharged
15 October, 2024

Tunnel project to reduce combined sewer overflows to Piney Branch and Rock Creek 

The National Park Service and DC Water invite the public to comment on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Piney Branch Tunnel project to improve water quality in Piney Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek.

This project is needed to reduce sewage overflows that contribute to poor water quality in Piney ...

Graphic with 10 and a water drop for the zero and phrase Imagine a Day Without Water and October 17, 2024
15 October, 2024

When you turn on the faucet you expect water to come out, but on Thursday, Oct. 17, we’re asking you to ‘Imagine a Day Without Water.’ As part of a National Day of Action, DC Water is hosting a ‘Pop-Up’ event at Farragut Square to highlight the value of water. 

Water utilities across the country are participating in the campaign, now in its 10th year, to ask what’s your drop in the bucket? Stop by ...

Water St NW and Capital Crescent Trail Utility Investigation Map
9 October, 2024

(Washington, DC) – As part of DC Water’s Potomac River Tunnel (PRT) Project, temporary traffic lane closures, trail detours, and parking restrictions, will be implemented to locate underground utilities along Water Street Northwest, and the Capital Crescent Trail on or about the week of October 15, 2024, weather permitting.  

The project’s contractor will perform the utility inspections to prepare ...

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