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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
DC Water issues statement regarding the stopgap federal spending bill to revert spending to 2024 levels.
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.
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.
Replace your lead service line for free and make your yard, street, and sidewalks good as new after construction may sound too good to be true, but it’s not. On Thursday, March 13, join DC Water as we walk you through the construction process and answer your questions about our Lead Free DC (LFDC) program.
