DC Water treats wastewater from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia at the largest treatment plant of its kind in the world. On an average day, close to 300 million gallons of raw sewage flows into the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant to be treated. After treatment, the cleaned water flows into the Potomac River which leads to the Chesapeake Bay.

To protect our waterways, DC Water is under strict requirements to dramatically reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous in the cleaned water we discharge into the Potomac. In fact, our permit limits are some of the most stringent in the country. Through innovative thinking and new technologies, DC Water continues to meet or exceed these performance levels set by the EPA.

We continue to improve and enhance our wastewater treatment processes to better serve the community, protect the environment and ensure the safety and reliability of our wastewater treatment. At DC Water, we take great pride in providing this essential service to our community.

For more information about DC Water's wastewater treatment program, download our brochure or take a tour.