DC Water Collecting and Testing Water Samples After Issuing a Boil Water Advisory
May 29, 2023
Today, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) will collect water samples from four to five locations in the area of Northeast D.C. currently under a boil water advisory. These samples will be analyzed at DC Water’s laboratory. Test results should be available Tuesday afternoon. A second round of sampling will also take place tomorrow. Following two consecutive days of clear samples, DC Water will lift the current boil water advisory, which we expect will be on Wednesday.
DC Water crews will open hydrants in the area to flush the distribution system by circulating fresh water through the system. This process can be repeated if needed.
DC Water issued the Boil Water Advisory after a temporary loss of pressure in the evening of May 28, 2023. DC Water advised customers to boil water first before using it for drinking or cooking if they are in the impacted area. This includes the neighborhoods of Fort Lincoln, Woodridge, and Langdon. The impact area is generally:
- East of Montana Avenue
- West of Eastern Avenue
- South of Rhode Island Avenue
- North of New York Avenue
DC Water advises customers to search their address on the interactive map or call the 24-Hour Command Center at (202) 612-3400 to determine if they are in the impacted area of this advisory. Customers in the affected area should boil water used for drinking and cooking. Customers outside this area can continue normal water use.
A 12-inch water main on V Street, NE between 33rd and South Dakota Avenue broke on Sunday causing a pressure drop. Overnight, crews repaired the water main and recharged the system. Next, DC Water will begin flushing water from the fire hydrant in the area to pull fresh water through the system. Simultaneously, DC Water will collect water samples to ensure the reduction in pressure did not adversely affect the water quality. DC Water will collect samples Monday and Tuesday and may be able to lift the notice on Wednesday May 31 when we have the results from Tuesday’s samples.
A valve in front of 3400 Commodore Joshua Barney Drive, NE will also need to be replaced this week. The valve replacement will require the water within a-few-block-radius to be shut off and those affected customers will be notified 24 hours prior to the water outage.
Additional information will be provided as soon as it is available.
The drinking water public notification began just before midnight on May 28. DC Water consulted with EPA Region 3 (the Authority’s regulatory body) and DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMA) and notified elected officials, DC Health and District agencies. A press release was distributed to media outlets and to those individuals who have signed up to receive news alerts. Most news outlets are covering the incident. DC Water is also employing social media, its website and NextDoor to further inform the public.
Please share this information with all other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
Customers with water quality questions should contact the Department of Water Quality at (202) 612-3440 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). All other questions should be directed to DC Water Customer Service at (202) 354-3600 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), the 24-Hour Command Center at 202-612-3400 or the Office of Marketing and Communications at (202) 787-2200 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Additional information is included in the initial Boil Water Advisory. Click here to read it.
