OVERVIEW

The Valve and Hydrant Assessment Program, launched as part of the DC Water’s Blueprint 2.0 initiative to strengthen system reliability and resilience in the District of Columbia water system. The program aims to proactively locate, inspect, and evaluate the working condition of all valves and hydrants across the portable water network. This proactive effort will allow us to identify aging infrastructure before failures, reduce service disruptions, and ensure that assets are ready and functioning when needed most, especially in emergencies. This is done by providing operational data on these assets including availability, accessibility, and operational information from field assessments and inspections of the assets. The program ensures that valves and hydrants are assessed on a five-year cycle to meet the recommended industry standard.

Our mission is to build a smarter, stronger, and more responsive water system. Through this program, we are investing in the long-term performance of our infrastructure to better serve our customers today and in the future. 

SCOPE OF WORK

• Locate, assess current condition and operability of all 48,000 valves and 9800 hydrants in the potable water system and document it.
• Meet and/or exceed the recommendations of American Water Works Association (AWWA) M44 for maintenance of valves and M17 for maintenance of hydrants on a five-year cycle.

SCHEDULE

• Estimated Cycle Assessment Start: May 2026
• Estimated Cycle Assessment Completion: May 2031
• Normal work hours: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday
  • Contractors may work at night or on weekends, dependent upon certain construction activities or inclement weather.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• DC Water will work to achieve minimal disruption during assessment operations.
• Noise and vibrations will be closely monitored throughout the project.
• Temporary traffic control such as cones and signs will be used.
• For any necessary temporary interruption of water services during assessment, customers who will be affected will be notified 48 hours in advance.
• Customers may experience temporary reduction in pressure during valve and hydrant operation.
• Customers may experience discolored water during valve and hydrant operations
• DC Water's Drinking Water Quality Frequently Asked Questions Can Be Found HERE!

PARTNER

DC Water is working to ensure minimal disruption during this project. Regular updates will be provided to impacted residents, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, Representatives in the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services, Councilmembers, and members of their staff.