Spring Valley Water Main Upgrade Project
Overview
DC Water is performing water main upgrades within the Spring Valley neighborhood as part of its Capital Improvement Program. These upgrades are designed to improve water quality, system reliability, water pressure in some areas, and also ensure optimal fire flow.
SCOPE OF WORK
Phases 1 and 2 – Completed
- Replacement of existing water main in Rockwood Parkway, NW
- Installation of a new water main connection to an existing main in Nebraska Avenue, NW
- Structural lining of water mains in 49th Street, NW and Glenbrook Road, NW
- Replacement of service lines, as needed
Phase 3 – Upcoming
- Structural lining of water mains in Woodway Lane, NW and Hillbrook Lane, NW
- Replacement of service lines, as needed
SCHEDULE
- Phase 3 estimated construction start: Late March 2020 (Weather Permitting)
- Phase 3 estimated construction completion: June 2020
- Normal work hours: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm, Monday-Friday; dependent upon permit approvals, contractor may work nights or weekends, due to inclement weather and/or additional construction activities.
Important information
Spring Valley is located within a formerly used defense site, consisting of 661 acres in the northwest section of Washington, D.C. During World War I, the site was known as the American University Experiment Station. Since 1993, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the District Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE) has conducted extensive investigations and cleanup actions within the area. The bulk of the finds have been discarded military munitions and munitions debris that were mostly not fuzed and unfired. Confirmed unexploded ordnances (fuzed and fired) have not been found to date. The Army recently completed a multi-year effort to remove arsenic contaminated soil from several locations within the site. The site is not designated as a Superfund site.
Since the existing water mains were constructed after American University Experiment Station was closed, it is unlikely that any chemical warfare or explosive materials will be encountered during construction of the water main upgrades. However, because it is possible that such materials could be encountered, DC Water is working with the USACE, EPA, DOEE and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to ensure public safety. DC Water has adopted a conservative approach to reduce risk, including performing soil testing by coring through the pavement and collecting samples for laboratory analysis; minimizing excavation by lining water mains where existing pipe size is adequate and replacing water mains in the same trench where pipe upsizing is needed; and having an unexploded ordnance specialist present.
DC Water will work to achieve minimal disruption during site investigations for design and construction and will restore the area to its original condition. Traffic control, including signage and protective barriers, will be set up to maintain public safety. In addition, DC Water will meet with the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) and affected property owners to address public concerns.
Project location
