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Water today issued its second annual Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, which provides a detailed update on ESG-related programs, projects, initiatives, and goals that occurred over the course of the fiscal year of 2022 (FY22). This report builds on the organization’s inaugural FY21 report, as it recognizes the related but distinct role resiliency plays in our enterprise, making it an ESG+R report, and provides an emphasis on accountability, resiliency, and a more integrated relationship with DC Water’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program.

“DC Water remains the only municipal water utility to produce and publish this type of comprehensive ESG report,” said David Gadis, CEO and general manager of DC Water. “Prioritizing ESG-related activities has significantly advanced our mission to provide high-quality water services in a safe, sustainable, and efficient manner. The FY22 report continues to hold us accountable to our many goals and objectives in numerous ways, such as by publishing 33 indicators that showcase our ESG performance over the past year relative to the targets originally set. We see our ESG program as a critical tool to our success.”      

The ESG+R report provides additional information on topics such as climate resiliency, risks, and opportunities through the adoption of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework. This disclosure details DC Water’s governance, strategy, risk management, metrics, and targets for mitigating and adapting to climate change.

“We are pleased to report the progress made within the last year in relation to DC Water’s ESG-related initiatives,” said DC Water Chair of the Board of Directors, Tommy Wells. “This report enables DC Water to build trust and hold itself accountable for the many efforts it is undergoing to enhance operations. The ESG+R report, working alongside the updated strategic plan, Blueprint 2.0, enables DC Water to leave lasting positive impacts on the surrounding community and ecosystem. We look forward to tracking more progress throughout the upcoming years.”

Highlights from the report include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. (Environmental) In FY22, the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant earned another Platinum Peak Performance Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). This recognition honors ten consecutive years of 100 percent compliance with the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
2. (Social) FY22 set a record for DC Water’s Customer Assistance Programs (CAPs) with $12.8 million in assistance provided by DC Water in the over 18,000 accounts enrolled in the CAP programs. This included 2,650 total new enrollments across the three tiers of CAPs, assisting 50 percent more customers and providing an additional $2.5 million in assistance compared with FY21.
3. (Governance) Over FY22, DC Water stood up the initial framework of an ESG Governance structure to institutionalize ESG throughout the Authority, allocate roles and responsibilities, guide future initiatives, manage data governance of metrics, and intentionally establish the relationship between DC Water’s strategy, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), and ESG programs.
4. (Resilience) DC Water secured $20.3 million in funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant to fund the next phases of the floodwall being constructed around the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. This grant is expected to cover 70 percent of the cost of the design build contract for the three remaining segments of the floodwall (segments A, B, and D). The fourth segment, segment C, was completed in July 2021.

To read the full FY22 ESG+R report, please click here.

DC Water presented its proposed FY 2024 Budget to the Board of Directors on January 5, 2023, and that presentation is available here.

In January and February, Board committees will consider the operating and capital budgets. Rates for FY 2023 and FY2024 were previously adopted by the Board.

Customers and stakeholders can learn more by attending the upcoming Board committee meetings in January and February. To view the Board Calendar visit dcwater.com/board-calendar.

WASHINGTON, DC — DC Water will reach a significant milestone for the Clean Rivers Project when it places the Northeast Boundary Tunnel (NEBT) into operation during the summer of 2023. The NEBT will increase the combined storm runoff capacity of the Anacostia River Tunnel (ART) system as it directs captured flows of combined stormwater and sewage to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment. This will significantly reduce flooding events in the Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park neighborhoods.

To achieve this milestone next year, DC Water will begin the next phase of construction by temporarily taking the First Street Tunnel (FST) out of service from December 2022 through February 2023.

“The work this winter is a critical preparatory step to make the final connection between the Northeast Boundary and First Street tunnels next year,” said Moussa Wone, Director of DC Water’s Clean Rivers Project. “Once that link is established and the NEBT is in service, there will be a continuous 13-mile- long, 100-foot-deep tunnel, with 190 million gallons of  storage, from Bloomingdale to Blue Plains.”

Workers will isolate the tunnel from the existing sewer system, clean the tunnel and remove a concrete structure that currently directs flow to the temporary pumping station at Thomas Street, NW. The entire procedure is expected to take about three months to complete.

DC Water scheduled the work to take place during the winter season when serious storms are least likely to occur. The FST is a key component for flooding mitigation in and around the Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park neighborhoods.

DC Water’s Clean Rivers team has developed measures to mitigate the impact of taking the tunnel out of service. These measures—and the project itself—have been the subject of numerous DC Water meetings with ANCs, community groups, tunnel forums, and key stakeholders.

Facilities that will remain in service during the FST shutdown are Irving Street’s green infrastructure, the McMillan Stormwater Storage Facility, the stormwater sewer pipe under Rhode Island Ave NW, and pervious pavement (that absorbs rainwater) installed in Bloomingdale neighborhood alleys.

To mitigate flooding through this construction:

DC Water will:

• Clean catch basins in the Bloomingdale area at least once a month
• Prepare sandbags and make them available in the neighborhood if a major event is predicted. This is specific to the areas that the First Street Tunnel serves. Contact DC Water’s 24-hour Command Center at 202-612-3400.
• If during the construction, a large storm is forecast, DC Water can put the FST back into service with 24 hours advance notice 

Residents in the affected areas should:

• Consider adding a backflow prevention device if they have not already (DC Water has a discount/reimbursement program for impacted residents in these neighborhoods.)
• Look into DC Water’s Floodproofing Rebate Program for residents of Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park
• Sign up to receive e-newsletters about the project, by sending your email address to dcclearrivers@dcwater.com
• Visit the project website at dcwater.com/NEBT for more information
• E-mail questions to DCCleanRivers@dcwater.com or call the 24/7 NEBT Hotline at 800-988-6151
• For emergencies, contact DC Water’s 24-hour Command Center at 202-612-3400

Channing Street residents may notice increased activity, equipment staging, vehicular traffic, and construction work in their area.

DC Water continues to work with the community during this important project to improve the Anacostia River and mitigate flooding.

More information on the complete program can be found at: dcwater.com/cleanrivers