DC Water will continue to provide updates on the status of ERU measurement changes through its official website, customer communications, and public meetings. Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to visit the DC Water website regularly and subscribe to newsletters or alerts for the latest information.
Conducting a comprehensive review of how property measurements are reflected in customer billing to ensure data accuracy and reliability.
Evaluating the impact of ERU measurements on affordability for customers and the community, including within the broader multi-year rate proposal.
Engaging with stakeholders and community representatives to gather input and address questions or concerns throughout the review process.
Reviewing practices in other regions to identify best approaches for assessing and implementing fees similar to CRIAC.
Clarifying and strengthening the process that allows customers to review and appeal property data.
Contact our Customer Care team. We’re available to assist weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling 202-354-3600 or you can email us customer.service@dcwater.com
Impervious area charges fund the approximately $3 billion federally mandated Clean Rivers Program. This investment benefits everyone in the District by reducing stormwater and sewage overflows into our rivers, improving water quality, and protecting public health and the environment.
All residential, multi-family and non-residential customers are billed a CRIAC. The charge is based on an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU). An ERU is a statistical median of the amount of impervious surface area in a single-family residential property, measured in square feet. The approved monthly ERU values for FY 2025 and FY 2026 are $21.23 and $24.23 respectively.
These rates may be adjusted as part of DC Water’s budget process which is currently underway for FY27 and FY28.
CRIAC fees are determined by the amount of impervious surface (like rooftops, driveways, and patios) on your property. DC Water uses aerial imagery and geographic data to measure these surfaces. Each property is assessed in Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs), which reflect the median impervious area for single-family homes. The monthly ERU fee for FY 2025 is $21.23 and for FY 2026 is $24.23. Larger properties or those with more paved surfaces pay higher fees, while smaller properties pay less.
Visit the DC Water website for rates and additional information about CRIAC.
You can estimate your CRIAC charge by totaling the square footage of impervious surfaces on your property, such as garages, pools, driveways, and patios. DC Water offers an Impervious Area Calculator online to help customers estimate charges and see how changes to property surfaces can affect their bill: https://serviceinfo.dcwater.com/iab_details/ . Customers with a My DC Water Login can also download current impervious area details for their property.
For questions or personalized assistance, contact DC Water’s Customer Care team on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 202-354-3600 or email customer.service@dcwater.com .
The CRIAC fee ensures everyone contributes fairly to maintaining and upgrading storm sewers and safeguarding local rivers. By funding the Clean Rivers Project, CRIAC helps prevent sewer overflows, reduces pollution, and provides cleaner water for recreation, wildlife, and future generations.
It is important for DC Water to get this right for all customers, which is why the implementation of the new ERU measurements is being paused. This not only ensures that we put the right systems in place, but that we create a process that is fair and equitable including a full review to verify the accuracy of our data and how its measured, how often new assessments are done, and how changes are communicated to customers.
If you have removed or reduced impervious surfaces and installed green infrastructure such as rain gardens, permeable pavement, or rain barrels, you can still have your CRIAC fee reduced through our CRIAC Incentive Program. (Refer to question 12)
Your ERU measurement may change if new aerial imagery identifies additional impervious surfaces or if you add/remove structures like driveways or patios. Even if you haven’t made changes, improvements in technology may identify impervious areas not previously detected. Due to the pause in implementation of new assessments, any changes to your ERU measurements will occur no earlier than FY2029. (Refer to question 2)
The Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge (CRIAC) is a fee collected by DC Water to fund the $3 billion federally mandated Clean Rivers Program to reduce combined stormwater and sewage overflows into the District’s waterways, improving public health and the environment.
The CRIAC fee is based on the amount of impervious surface area—such as rooftops and driveways—on your property, which contributes to stormwater runoff. The pause in implementing changes to CRIAC ERU measurements was made in response to concerns and feedback from customers, community representatives, and stakeholders. This pause allows DC Water to reevaluate the process so that any future changes are fair, accurate, and transparent.
Any updated assessments sent to property owners will not be implemented at this time, and no changes in ERU measurements will be implemented before FY29 due to this pause. As we move forward and before any changes in ERU measurements are implemented, property owners with concerns about any changes in their assessment may contact DC Water Customer Care for a review of their account to better understand the process and the change in measurements. This may include information and images for the property to show how those measurements were determined.
No changes to ERU measurements will occur before Fiscal Year 2029, which begins on October 1, 2028. This extended timeline ensures ample time to consider all options and conduct thorough reviews before any new measurement methods are implemented.
While the method for calculating ERU measurements will remain unchanged during the pause, annual adjustments to CRIAC rates may still occur as part of the regular budget process. This means your CRIAC bill could increase based on existing measurements, even though the calculation method itself will not change until at least Fiscal Year 2029.
