News & Events

DC Water Secures 10 Consecutive Years of a “AAA” credit rating from S&P

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) has once again secured high credit ratings from all three major rating agencies—S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings—further strengthening our position as a national leader in public utilities. These ratings not only reflect confidence from the financial markets, but they also directly benefit our customers by supporting lower borrowing costs and more affordable water and sewer rates.

“These outstanding ratings are more than just a financial achievement—they’re a testament to our commitment to the communities we serve,” said David L. Gadis, CEO and General Manager. “Every dollar we save through prudent fiscal management and favorable bond rates is a dollar we can keep in the pockets of our customers. Our focus on strong governance and smart investment means we can keep rates stable, invest in critical infrastructure, and ensure safe, reliable service for everyone who depends on us.”

All three rating agencies— S&P, Moody’s and Fitch—highlighted several common strengths pointing to DC Water’s “strong financial profile” and “robust liquidity” while noting “independent rate-setting authority” as a key factor in fiscal resilience. DC Water was also acknowledged for its customer affordability and prudent management, recognizing long-term infrastructure investments and sound capital planning, including major initiatives like the Lead Free DC program and Clean Rivers Project.

S&P Global Ratings

S&P Global Ratings reaffirmed the ‘AAA’ rating on existing senior-lien bonds and assigned a ‘AA+’ rating to DC Water’s upcoming subordinate-lien bonds —recognizing exceptional management policies, strong financial performance, and the successful execution of a $9.7 billion ten-year capital improvement plan. S&P’s analysis highlighted DC Water’s integrated strategic planning, comprehensive rate structure, and customer assistance programs that keep rates affordable, particularly for those most in need. The agency also pointed out DC Water’s resilience in the face of economic headwinds, maintaining robust coverage and cash reserves despite regional job losses, and its strong governance as a credit strength that supports long-term sustainability.

Moody’s Investors Service

Moody’s Investors Service maintained its Aa1 (senior lien) and Aa2 (subordinate lien) ratings, underscoring DC Water’s strong financial metrics, stable service area, and excellent rate management. Moody’s pointed to the Authority’s consistent operating performance, healthy debt service coverage, and robust liquidity—well above policy targets. Moody’s noted the low long-term liability burden relative to peer cities, the Board’s independent rate-setting authority, and the presence of major institutional customers like the federal government, which provide a stable revenue base. The stable outlook reflects confidence in DC Water’s ability to manage rate adjustments and maintain healthy financials while investing in the system for future generations.

Fitch Ratings

Fitch Ratings gave DC Water a strong ‘AA’ rating to DC Water’s subordinate lien bonds and reaffirmed the ‘AA+’ rating on senior-lien bonds, along with a top-tier ‘F1+’ rating on commercial paper.  The rating recognizes the Authority’s strong financial profile, revenue flexibility, affordable rates, healthy income, and steady capital investments. Their “stable outlook” shows confidence that DC Water will continue to keep rates reasonable and invest in reliable service for the community.

Together, these high ratings from the “Big Three” signal to both the financial and bond markets—and to the residents and businesses we serve—that DC Water remains a model of fiscal health, operational excellence, and customer commitment. By maintaining strong credit, we can continue to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable water and sewer services, while investing in the infrastructure that keeps our region running strong.

DC Water today announced the launch of Pure Water DC, a groundbreaking program designed to strengthen the District’s water supply resilience and secure a second source of drinking water for the nation’s capital. This effort comes in response to growing risks posed by reliance on a single water source—the Potomac River—and the Washington Aqueduct, which currently supplies 100% of DC Water’s drinking water.

“Any disruption to the Potomac River or the Aqueduct would have catastrophic consequences—not just for Washington, DC, but for the entire region,” said David L. Gadis, CEO and General Manager of DC Water. “Pure Water DC is planning ahead, investing wisely, and ensuring that our customers, our economy, and our national security are protected. This is not optional—it’s essential.”

To kick off this initiative, DC Water convened a panel discussion along with industry experts, utilities, and federal and state regulators from across the region. The panel explored practical ways to make our water supply more resilient, including advanced water reuse —a growing solution nationwide to address vulnerabilities in the water supply. This method relies on advanced treatment processes to purify water to drinking standards so it can be safely recycled for various purposes.

“Last year’s close call exposed a critical vulnerability, when we came within 30 minutes of exhausting our water supply on the eve of Independence Day —a near crisis that affected nearly a million residents and visitors,” said Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes, Chair of DC Water’s Board of Directors. “We cannot allow that to happen again. Pure Water DC is our answer to ensure water resilience.”

The Pure Water DC strategy lays out a portfolio of solutions to address this vulnerability, including:

• Exploring advanced water reuse at DC Water’s Blue Plains facility as a drought-proof, cost-effective second source of water.
• Safeguarding the current source and optimizing DC Water’s distribution system.
• Adding local storage and collaborating on long-term regional emergency storage efforts, such as Travilah Quarry in Maryland and others in Virginia.

DC Water has committed $21 million in seed funding over the next three years to pilot technologies, conduct research, and engage regulators and the public. A key component of this work will be the Pure Water DC Discovery Center, scheduled to break ground in 2026, which will serve as a hub for innovation, education, and collaboration.

Pure Water DC’s Discovery Center will contribute research and data as part of an ongoing feasibility study by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to accelerate understanding of how water reuse can strengthen the region’s water supply.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Water Reuse Action Plan (WRAP) also designated Pure Water DC as a WRAP action, joining dozens of other priority initiatives to advance water reuse nationwide.

“EPA proudly welcomes DC Water to our WRAP family, strengthening our network and reinforcing our commitment to secure water solutions,” said Andrew Sawyers, Director of EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management. “DC Water’s WRAP action emphasizes collaboration, pulling together local, federal, and regional partners to explore solutions to their water supply challenges.”

A 2024 study by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin estimated that a major disruption to the region’s water supply could result in $15 billion in regional economic losses in just the first month. With more volatile weather patterns, extreme drought, and growing demand—including data centers—these risks are increasing.

Pure Water DC is not just a DC Water initiative—it’s a regional call to action. The program invites collaboration among utilities, agencies, and stakeholders across the Washington Metropolitan Area to build a resilient water future together.

The Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) has approved a two-year contract extension for Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David L. Gadis, ensuring stability in leadership as the Authority continues to deliver on major infrastructure upgrades, equity, sustainability initiatives, and customer-focused improvements critical to the District’s future. The extension, approved during a Special Meeting of the Board on October 29, 2025, extends Mr. Gadis’ tenure through September 30, 2028.

Since being appointed in 2018, Mr. Gadis has led DC Water through a period of significant progress and transformation. His leadership has helped strengthen financial stability, advance customer affordability programs, expand community partnerships, and accelerate work on some of the region’s most consequential environmental and infrastructure initiatives — including the nationally recognized Lead Free DC program and the Clean Rivers Project.

Under Mr. Gadis’s leadership, DC Water has:

• Maintained some of the strongest credit ratings in the public utility sector, helping keep borrowing costs low and customer rates affordable.
• Delivered major milestones in the Clean Rivers Project, including early completion of the Anacostia River Tunnel and continued progress on the Potomac River Tunnel — the largest infrastructure project in District history, which will reduce sewer overflows and dramatically improve water quality.
• Accelerated Lead Free DC replacements of thousands of lead service lines with approximately 70% replaced at no-cost or discounted cost to homeowners and renters — improving public health and equity.
• Released the nation’s first ESG+R (Environmental, Social, Governance + Resilience) report by a municipal utility, positioning DC Water as a global leader for sustainable and resilient utility management.
• Expanded affordability and emergency relief programs to strengthen customer service and support District families facing financial hardship.
• Advanced workforce development, leadership growth, pay equity, and training, including expanded apprenticeship opportunities.

“During a time when public utilities across the nation are grappling with aging infrastructure, climate change, affordability challenges, and evolving regulations, stability in leadership is essential,” said Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes, chair of the DC Water Board of Directors. “David Gadis brings the vision, discipline, and community-centered leadership required to steward this essential public service. His record — from delivering major infrastructure projects and strengthening our financial standing, to advancing equity through Lead Free DC — reflects a deep commitment to ensuring every resident has access to clean, safe, reliable water. The Board is confident DC Water is well positioned for the future under his continued leadership.”

Looking ahead, Mr. Gadis will continue leading strategic initiatives that enhance service reliability, sustainability, and customer affordability central to the Authority’s long-term resilience, and service to the District, including:

• Completion of the Potomac River Tunnel, the final major segment of the Clean Rivers Project.
• Continued acceleration of Lead Free DC to replace all lead service lines by 2037.
• Advancement of water reuse strategy and development of a second source of supply to enhance regional water security.
• Strengthening cybersecurity, hazard resilience, and system-wide emergency preparedness.
• Continuing to expand customer affordability and community partnership programs.

“Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and it has been the honor of my career to serve the residents of the District of Columbia,” said David L. Gadis, CEO and General Manager of DC Water. “I am deeply grateful to the Board for their confidence, our employees for their dedication and expertise, and the communities we serve for their trust and partnership. Together, we will ensure DC Water remains resilient, equitable, financially strong, and ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.”

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) has once again earned top credit ratings from all three major agencies—S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings—reinforcing our reputation as a national leader in the utility sector.

All three rating agencies recognized DC Water’s strong financial management, independent rate-setting authority, and commitment to long-term infrastructure investment. Each cited the Authority’s ability to maintain high debt service coverage, healthy liquidity, and affordability for customers despite rising capital needs.

Together, they provide a stable outlook and affirm our strategic governance, and resilience amid environmental and economic challenges. Because we finance much of our infrastructure investment through tax-exempt bonds, strong ratings give us access to low-cost capital—savings we pass on to customers through lower rate increases.

“These ratings reflect the market’s confidence in our ability to deliver essential services while managing risk and investing in the future,” said David L. Gadis, CEO and General Manager. “We are proud to maintain these high ratings, especially under tight budget constraints and growing environmental pressures.”

S&P Global Ratings

S&P awarded our senior-lien bonds a ‘AAA’ rating in 2016—the highest available to any utility—placing DC Water among the most financially secure public utilities in the nation.

S&P also assigned a ‘AA+’ rating to our upcoming subordinate lien bonds and reaffirmed the ‘AAA’ rating on existing senior lien bonds, citing strong reserves, excellent management, and careful planning through major infrastructure upgrades. This includes a $9.6 billion capital improvement program, with nationally recognized programs such as the Clean Rivers Project and Lead Free DC initiative.

Moody’s Investors Service

Moody’s maintained its Aa1 and Aa2 ratings, highlighting our sound finances, prudent rate-setting, and healthy cash reserves—expected to remain strong through at least 2029.

The agency emphasized DC Water’s strong financial metrics, stable service area, and proactive capital planning. Moody’s also noted the authority’s consistent revenue growth and its ability to maintain high debt service coverage and liquidity.

Fitch Ratings

Fitch Ratings assigned a ‘AA’ rating to DC Water’s subordinate lien bonds and reaffirmed the ‘AA+’ rating on senior-lien bonds, along with a top-tier ‘F1+’ rating on commercial paper.

The agency cited DC Water’s “very strong financial profile,” supported by low debt levels, affordable rates, and the authority’s ability to raise rates independently. Fitch also noted the utility’s low operating costs, strong capital planning, and flexibility to manage spending under federal budget constraints.

“Tax-exempt bonds may not be flashy, but they are the workhorse of our industry,” said Matthew T. Brown, Chief Financial Officer. “These ratings help us keep rates affordable while investing in infrastructure that protects public health and the environment.”

All three agencies emphasized governance as a key strength. Our strategic plan, Blueprint 2.0, and Impact + Resilience Report are fully integrated with our financial model and rate plan, aligning infrastructure investment with long-term planning and community outcomes.

DC Water’s customer assistance programs were also highlighted by the ratings agencies, which were noted by S&P for helping to reduce residential delinquencies by 30% since the pandemic—underscoring our commitment to affordability.

With a stable outlook from all three rating agencies, DC Water is well-positioned to continue delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable water and sewer services to more than two million people across the region.

DC Water’s efforts to build a more resilient water supply took a significant step forward with the announcement today of Rabia Chaudhry, PhD, PE, as the first Director of Water Supply Resilience. The new position reflects the importance and urgency surrounding the Authority’s reliance on the Potomac River as its only water source and the need for alternatives.

At DC Water, Dr. Chaudhry will lead the resilience strategy, exploring additional resources to supply water and initiating the long term implementation. This work is essential to ensure reliable drinking water for more than 700,000 District residents, commercial office buildings, federal and local agencies, and millions of visitors to the nation’s capital each year.

“Dr. Chaudhry understands the complexity of water supply resilience. There is no ‘silver bullet’ to address the unique challenge facing the nation’s capital,” said DC Water Chief Executive Officer and GM David Gadis. “DC Water is crucial to the federal government’s ability to operate without disruption and ensuring safe, reliable water to the White House, Congress, and various agencies. A resilient water supply is not only important to our customers, but to the entire country.”

Dr. Chaudhry’s experience includes deep technical knowledge, financial expertise in water infrastructure, and familiarity working with federal agencies that will be essential to the role. She will lead the Authority’s strategy to explore all options to secure a more resilient water supply and provide reliable drinking water for the nation’s capital.

If a major water disruption occurred on the Potomac, DC Water would only have enough reserves for 24 hours and it could cause significant economic damage. A recent report by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River estimated the loss to the region would be $146.9 million after the first day.

Previously, Dr. Chaudhry worked at the US Environmental Protection Agency. In her most recent roles, she managed federal financial resources for water infrastructure and technical assistance as the manager of the Drinking Water Protection and Grants Branch and as the Director of the Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center. She has also served as the National Water Reuse Expert at the EPA where she built diverse coalitions of stakeholders to facilitate resilient water systems through the National Water Reuse Action Plan.

In addition to her positions at the EPA, Dr. Chaudhry has worked on large scale, global water infrastructure programs at the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Dr. Chaudhry holds a Civil and Environmental Engineering doctorate from the University of California Berkeley focused on advanced treatment technologies for water reuse, and a bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

DC Water is celebrating a milestone appointment with this week’s swearing in of Dr. Unique N. Morris-Hughes as the new chair of the DC Water Board of Directors. This marks the first time a woman holds the position as the permanent Board Chair for the Authority.

Dr. Morris-Hughes serves on the Board on behalf of the District and is also the Director of the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES). After being sworn in, Dr. Morris-Hughes shared her pride in DC Water and praised its 1,300 talented employees and the Authority as the best in the world.

“The work we will do collectively is important. It’s important to the Mayor, it’s important to District residents, it’s important to the residents of the surrounding jurisdictions,” said Chair Morris-Hughes. “I look forward to leading this Board…really understanding where we should be going, what we can do better, and doing a lot of victory laps on the things we’re already doing right.”

Dr. Morris-Hughes is credited with the successful turnaround of DOES’s federally funded workforce programs. Additionally, as State Secretary of Labor, she is responsible for over $150 million in local and federal funding for workforce and jobs programs and over $80 million in active capital projects.

Her leadership at DOES has been key to the success of DC Water’s apprenticeship program and workforce development programs.

“We are excited about the leadership Dr. Morris-Hughes brings to the Board of Directors. She has been a champion of DC Water and supported the work we do,” said DC Water Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David Gadis. “As Director of the District Department of Employment Services, Dr. Morris-Hughes has been an invaluable partner with the Authority’s training and apprenticeship equity programs. She brings an impressive combination of professional and academic credentials to her stewardship of the Board.”

Dr. Morris-Hughes replaces Rachna Bhatt who served twice in 2024 as the interim Board Chair and provided leadership through this transition.

Dr. Morris-Hughes’ extensive career spans both the for-profit and non-profit sectors, with experience in education, program development, evaluation, and compliance.

The Board Chair leads the 22-member Board of Directors, overseeing DC Water’s $8.5 billion capital and operating budget.

Dr. Morris-Hughes has a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, an MBA from Trinity University, and a BA in English from Johnson C. Smith University.

In addition, Jed Ross, who formerly served as an alternate board member, was elevated to   a principal board member. He was sworn in along with Dr. Morris-Hughes and represents the District of Columbia. Ross is Chief Risk Officer for the District. Appointed by the Mayor in 2015, he oversees DC’s Office of Risk Management and its 80-person staff and contractors.

Go to the Board of Directors page at dcwater.com for a list of board members, meeting calendar, and to access video and information for past and future board meetings.

(Washington, DC) – Starting on or about June 17, 2024, DC Water’s contractor for the Potomac River Tunnel (PRT) Project will temporarily close a section of Ohio Drive, SW. The main construction site in West Potomac Park will be active until the project’s completion in 2030. A relocated Ohio Drive will direct traffic around the construction area.

The Potomac River Tunnel (PRT) is the next major phase of the DC Clean Rivers Project, which is DC Water’s ongoing program to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into the District’s waterways. The project consists of a large-diameter deep sewer tunnel, diversion facilities, drop shafts, and support structures to capture flows from existing CSOs along the Potomac River and convey them to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“This project is critical to ensure we reduce the CSOs that contribute to water quality impairment of the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay,” states David L. Gadis, DC Water CEO and General Manager. “So while the construction could be disruptive, and we will try to minimize the traffic impacts, ultimately, the tunnel will improve the resilience of the District against the threat of pollution and climate change for generations to come.”

The 18-foot-diameter tunnel will run deep underground beneath the Georgetown waterfront, along the edge of the National Mall and East Potomac Park, past Hains Point, and connect by gravity to the existing Anacostia River Tunnel. Construction will require two tunnel boring machines (TBMs). Starting from West Potomac Park, one TBM will mine south through mostly soft ground, and another TBM will head north to bore through rock.

The roadway that will serve as the relocation of Ohio Drive will be constructed beginning June 17 and is expected to open by October 2024, weather permitting. Until then, traffic will be detoured, and signage will be in place to assist motorists and cyclists with navigating the construction zone safely. Additionally, signage will be in place to help pedestrians with temporary sidewalk closures on Independence Avenue, SW, and adjacent to the West Potomac Park construction site. When the relocated Ohio Drive opens in October, it will remain in place until the project’s completion in 2030. It will be restored to its original route.

The PRT 2030 completion date is stipulated in the Consent Decree DC Water signed in 2005 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice, and the District of Columbia. Once the PRT is operational, it will reduce CSOs to the Potomac River by 93 percent in an average year of rainfall. CSOs impair water quality by increasing water bacteria levels, which negatively impacts aquatic life, and contributes to an increase in the amount of trash in waterways. An estimated 654 million gallons of CSOs enter the Potomac River each year by average rainfall.

About DC Water
DC Water provides more than 700,000 residents and 21.3 million annual visitors in the District of Columbia with retail water and wastewater (sewer) service. With a total service area of approximately 725 square miles, DC Water also treats wastewater for approximately 1.8 million people in neighboring jurisdictions, including Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia.

About the DC Clean Rivers Project
The Clean Rivers Project is DC Water’s ongoing program to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into the District’s waterways - the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and Rock Creek. The Project is a massive infrastructure and support program designed to capture and clean wastewater during rainfalls before it ever reaches our rivers.  The project also includes improving the capacity of the system to mitigate chronic flooding that has plagued some areas of the District since the early 1900s.

The Clean Rivers Project is comprised of a system of deep tunnels, sewers, and diversion facilities to capture CSOs and deliver them to DC Water’s Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The Clean Rivers Project is also installing Green Infrastructure or “GI” to assist with the reduction of CSOs to the Potomac River and Rock Creek.  The Anacostia River and Potomac River tunnel systems include more than 18 miles of tunnels that are larger than the Metro tunnels and are constructed more than 100 feet below the ground.

For more information
Project Email: dcpotomacrivertunnel@dcwater.com
Project Website: www.dcwater.com/prt

(Washington, DC) - Today DC Water hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to officially commence construction activities for the Potomac River Tunnel Project at West Potomac Park. The Potomac River Tunnel is the next major phase of the DC Clean Rivers Project, which is DC Water’s ongoing program to improve the water quality of the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and Rock Creek by increasing the capacity of the sewer system.

The Project consists of a large-diameter deep sewer tunnel, diversion facilities, drop shafts, and support structures to capture flows from existing combined sewer overflows (CSOs) along the Potomac River and convey them to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. The 5.5-mile-long tunnel will be completed in 2030, providing a 93% reduction in the volume of CSOs to the Potomac River in an average year of rainfall.

“Today we break ground with a sense of purpose and responsibility. This project is critical to ensure we reduce the CSOs that contribute to water quality impairment of the Potomac,” stated DC Water CEO David L. Gadis. “We are proud to have the support of so many of the city’s leaders and concerned citizens in this effort. Together we can shape a future where cleaner water flows and the Potomac River thrives as a beacon of environmental vitality.”

The ceremony gathered key stakeholders including Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, Deputy Superintendent Sean Kennealy of the National Park Service, Department of Energy and Environment Director Richard Jackson and other city leaders and agency partners to highlight the importance of this new project that will improve water quality and aesthetics of the Potomac River for the benefit of all.

Congresswoman Norton said, “During my time in office, I have worked with DC Water to improve the water systems in the District of Columbia.  Since 2003, I have secured annually a special federal appropriation for the Clean Rivers Project, totaling approximately 300 million dollars, which is being used for construction of the Potomac River Tunnel. I look forward to seeing the continued improvements DC Water is making and to working with DC Water to provide funding for these essential investments.”

CSOs impair water quality by increasing water bacteria levels, which negatively impacts aquatic life, and contributes to an increase in the amount of trash in waterways. An estimated 654 million gallons of CSOs currently enter the Potomac River each year by way of average rainfall. This project was established in accordance with the 2005 Federal Consent Decree entered by DC Water, the District of Columbia, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Department of Justice, as amended in January 2016.

The 18-foot-diameter tunnel will run deep underground beneath the Georgetown waterfront, along the edge of the National Mall and East Potomac Park, past Hains Point and connect by gravity to the existing Anacostia River Tunnel. Construction will require two tunnel boring machines. Starting from West Potomac Park, one machine will mine south through mostly soft ground, and another machine will head north to bore through rock.

The $819 million project, the largest contract ever awarded by DC Water, is being constructed by a joint venture of CBNA and Halmar.

About DC Water

DC Water provides more than 700,000 residents and 21.3 million annual visitors in the District of Columbia with retail water and wastewater (sewer) service. With a total service area of approximately 725 square miles, DC Water also treats wastewater for approximately 1.8 million people in neighboring jurisdictions, including Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia.

About the DC Clean Rivers Project

The Clean Rivers Project is DC Water’s ongoing program to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSO’s) into the District’s waterways - the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and Rock Creek. The Project is a massive infrastructure and support program designed to capture and clean wastewater during rainfalls before it ever reaches our rivers.  The project also includes improving the capacity of the system to mitigate chronic flooding that has plagued some areas of the District since the early 1900’s.

The Clean Rivers Project is comprised of a system of deep tunnels, sewers, and diversion facilities to capture CSO’s and deliver them to DC Water’s Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The Clean Rivers Project is also installing Green Infrastructure or “GI” to assist with the reduction of CSO’s to the Potomac River and Rock Creek.  The Anacostia River and Potomac River tunnel systems include more than 18 miles of tunnels that are larger than the Metro tunnels and are constructed more than 100 feet below the ground.

For more information

Project Email: dcpotomacrivertunnel@dcwater.com

Project Website: www.dcwater.com/prt

The EPA has issued final drinking water standards for six types of poly- and perfluoroalkyl (PFAS) compounds. DC Water is committed to meeting the regulations and providing high quality drinking water.

Like you, we are learning today about EPA’s announced proposal to modify the Lead and Copper Rule to require water systems across the country to replace lead service lines within 10 years of the effective rule. Given an anticipated effective date of 2027, this would translate into the removal of all lead service lines by 2037. EPA is also proposing additional changes, including lowering the lead action level.

(Washington, DC) – DC Water CEO and General Manager David L. Gadis today joined U.S. EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator Mae Wu, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and other District and Federal officials to celebrate the commissioning of the Northeast Boundary Tunnel (NEBT). The five-mile-long tunnel is the final component of the Anacostia River Tunnel System which will reduce combined sewer overflows to the Anacostia River by 98 percent in an average year, significantly improving water quality in the river. The NEBT will also mitigate flooding in many District neighborhoods where flooding has been a chronic issue during intense rainstorms.

This week, the DC Water Board of Directors approved a design-build contract for construction of the Potomac River Tunnel (PRT). The $819 million contract is the largest ever awarded by the Authority. The 5.5-mile-long tunnel will control combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to the Potomac River, improving water quality in this critical natural resource. This work is part of the larger Clean Rivers Project, a $2.99 billion program to improve the water quality of the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and Rock Creek by increasing the capacity of the sewer system.

DC Water’s 2023 Lead Service Line Replacement Plan details the necessary actions from DC Water, customers, the District, and other stakeholders to accelerate replacement efforts. Since the 2019 launch of the Lead Free DC (LFDC) program, DC Water and our partners have been making significant strides to reduce the sources of lead in drinking water. As of May 2023, we replaced 4,287 lead service lines with copper pipes, using District funding to provide free and discounted replacement programs for customers. Customers have saved nearly $7 million by taking advantage of these programs.

DC Water has received its first of 12 B100 vehicles from the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program grant that will replace 13 existing diesel vehicles. The Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCCC) and DC Water secured the funds from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) DERA Program in 2021 to purchase 12 trucks equipped with Optimus’ revolutionary 100% biodiesel (B100) advanced fuel system technology. On May 18, 2023, a Combo Vac Unit was deployed with DC Water.

This is the first step in the DERA grant’s goal to retire 13 of DC Water’s diesel powered vehicles, replacing them with 12 B100 vehicles by the end of 2024. This effort is projected to reduce DC Water’s greenhouse gas emissions by 76%  (98.3 metric tons), the equivalent of removing 21.4 passenger cars or planting 1,625 trees. In addition, the project will reduce harmful particulate matter known to cause cancer, asthma, and lung-related issues by 97%. The vehicles will also reduce nitrogen oxides (known to cause low level ozone damage) by 94% among other harmful air emissions. Implemented across 31 zip codes in Washington, D.C., this project will reduce U.S. dependence on imported petroleum, demonstrate cost–effective energy efficiency, and improve air quality in the District and greater Washington region.

Maureen Holman, Vice President of Shared Services for DC Water, said, “We are thankful to the EPA for providing the grant funding and the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition for partnering with us to add these clean energy vehicles to our fleet. They will help us further reduce our carbon footprint and support our strategic imperative to be a more sustainable organization.”

Antoine M. Thompson, GWRCCC Executive Director, added, “transitioning large fleets in the region to clean transportation fuels takes time, but the greater Washington region will be a cleaner, healthier place because of it. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions improves health outcomes for some of the DMV’s most at risk, reducing the likelihood of negative health implications from carbon and diesel emissions. GWRCCC is excited to see tangible results of our partnership with DC Water and the EPA come to fruition.”

Other project partners include fuel supplier – Chevron/Renewable Energy Group (REG), and public outreach partners – Metropolitan Washington Council of Government, the Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation, and the National Biodiesel Board.

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

WASHINGTON, DC — DC Water announced today that CEO and General Manager David L. Gadis has been named to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). Mr. Gadis will serve with distinction as the sole expert on the Council from the wastewater utilities sector, among more than two dozen new appointments that included industry leaders from transportation, energy, and defense.

Mr. David Gadis said, “I am deeply honored to receive the appointment to NIAC at such a critical time, while national attention is so firmly fixed on infrastructure solutions. President Biden has committed unprecedented resources to fixing these issues. We can’t overemphasize the outstanding necessity of the Infrastructure Act, which invests more than 1.2 trillion in restoring and improving our roads, electricity grid, and access to broadband. However, with its dual commitment to clean water and Great Lakes and rivers restoration, our aging wastewater utilities must also receive ample consideration and funding.”

As CEO of DC Water, David Gadis oversees a $1 billion annual budget, a workforce of approximately 1,200 employees, and the largest Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in the world that provides services for nearly 700,000 District residents. Since taking leadership of the Authority in May 2018, Gadis has led several transformative initiatives related to environmental justice and water equity. Some of DC Water’s innovative approaches and projects, such as the $2.7 billion Clean Rivers Project, have become part of the national conversation around water equity.

Gadis continued, “In my role with DC Water, I have a unique vantage point to help inform NIAC. The challenges facing wastewater utilities are not insurmountable, and we have tackled many complex policy issues, ranging from environmental justice to water equity. In my new capacity on NIAC, I am excited to shine a light on wastewater utilities as an integral part of infrastructure.”

DC Water released the Authority’s Lead Service Line Replacement Plan

DC Water today announced the success of both its first green infrastructure (GI) projects in Rock Creek and the innovative Environmental Impact Bond (EIB) that financed them. The intent of the projects and robust evaluation of project outcomes was to establish the effectiveness of green infrastructure in the District and reduce combined sewer and stormwater runoff into Rock Creek, improving the health of waterways in the District.

These projects achieved the goals set in 2016, reducing runoff into Rock Creek by nearly 20 percent. DC Water’s prediction, measurement, and reporting of the outcomes is a signature component of the EIB, the first issuance of its kind in the country. The information gained through performance monitoring resulted in optimizations that will ensure a future for green infrastructure at DC Water.

The proceeds from the EIB provided the upfront capital needed to construct the first GI project in the DC Clean Rivers Project, which involved the installation of 25 acres of bioretention (rain gardens) in planter strips and curb extensions, permeable pavement on streets and alleys, and two green infrastructure parks in the Rock Creek sewershed in Wards 4 and 5.

DC Water achieved the objectives established at the outset of the financing:

• Ensure responsible stewardship of ratepayer funds by transferring a portion of performance risk associated with technologies that had never been implemented on a large scale in the District
• Enhance future decision-making about how much and which types of green infrastructure to build
• Create a model funding mechanism that other municipalities can leverage to advance the use of green infrastructure to address stormwater management in their communities
• Establish a green jobs initiative targeting local workforce development and sustainable job creation, including training and certification opportunities for District residents
• Improve transparency to local ratepayers by formally predicting, measuring, and publicly reporting the environmental impact of the green infrastructure

Each of these objectives was achieved. Additionally, post-construction monitoring found the green infrastructure reduced stormwater runoff by nearly 20 percent from previous levels, achieving the performance goals.

The rigorous measurement and reporting inherent to the EIB provided DC Water with lessons learned about green infrastructure that can be applied to other projects. In its final report on Rock Creek Project 1, DC Water highlights 15 lessons learned about porous pavement, bioretention, and other green infrastructure facilities, noting “significant information has been learned in terms of design, construction, and monitoring approaches that have added to DC Water’s body of knowledge and expertise related to GI. Collectively, the information gained through the performance monitoring and the resulting optimization allowed DC Water to be responsive, make corrections, and ensure a future for green infrastructure at DC Water.”

Based on these findings, DC Water plans to implement a hybrid approach in the Rock Creek sewershed that blends the best of gray and green infrastructure. The hybrid approach provides the same degree of stormwater control as the all-gray (using traditional engineering techniques) infrastructure alternative, lowers capital costs as compared to the all-gray or all-green alternatives, and will be implemented by 2030, the deadline in the 2016 Consent Decree Modification.

This hybrid approach is accountable to District ratepayers and delivers additional benefits such as more green space for public use and more local green jobs as compared to the all-gray option. DC Water’s ambitious local green jobs program includes training and certification opportunities for District residents interested in GI construction, inspection, and maintenance.

“This financing instrument required analysis at a level not usually performed,” said David L. Gadis, DC Water Chief Executive Officer and General Manager. “Utilities across the country can apply our learnings to their stormwater programs. The information and lessons learned will benefit the entire sector and will inform our future projects as well.”

DC Water CFO Matt Brown added, “This model allowed DC Water to share a portion of the financial risk associated with green infrastructure investment on this scale. Because the projects met the established goals, the District benefits with cleaner waterways and a greener environment. This EIB establishes a replicable and scalable approach to financing green infrastructure for other communities across the country.”

Gadis added, “Another component that serves as a model to utilities nationwide is the local jobs and workforce development program we created in partnership with the Water Environment Federation. We are training and certifying District residents for green jobs and we aim to fill 51 percent of the new jobs created by the GI program with District residents.”

About DC Water
DC Water provides more than 700,000 residents and 21.3 million annual visitors in the District of Columbia with retail water and wastewater (sewer) service. With a total service area of approximately 725 square miles, DC Water also treats wastewater for approximately 1.6 million people in neighboring jurisdictions, including Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia.

The Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant is located at the southernmost tip of the District, covering 153 acres along the Potomac River. Blue Plains is the largest advanced wastewater treatment facility in the world and home to North America’s first thermal hydrolysis plant that enables anaerobic digestion to create electricity from wastewater.

The DC Clean Rivers Project is a $2.7 billion program to control combined sewer overflows to its three waterways—the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and Rock Creek— improving the District’s water quality and creating a healthier future for District residents. More information on the Environmental Impact Bond – and hi res images—can be found at dcwater.com/EIB. More information on the Clean Rivers Project can be found at dcwater.com/cleanrivers.

Today, at an event with Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, U.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, DC Water Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David L. Gadis, and other local officials, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan announced a $156 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water).

DC Water announced a AAA rating by S&P for the upcoming Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan. DC Water plans to close on the loan in the coming weeks for approximately $156 million in EPA funding.

Vince Morris
(202) 787-2081
Vincent.Morris@dcwater.com

October 19, 2020

DC Water announced today that it is partnering with several universities on groundbreaking new research that will save customers money and could improve water quality.

The goal is improved wastewater treatment and DC Water’s concept for improving the technology has the potential to save millions for cities around the world, said Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David L. Gadis.

“Our goal is to reduce energy use and save our customers money while using innovative technology to improve the environment,” explained Mr. Gadis, while praising the partnership with George Washington University, Northwestern University and the University of Queens in Ontario.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded DC Water its ‘Science to Achieve Results grant’ with a three-year timeframe for achieving results. At DC Water, the project is led by Christine deBarbadillo, the director of clean water and technology.

She said the authority has worked well with GW for many years on exploring solutions and upgrades to existing wastewater technology. She also said that the research is focused primarily on finding ways to denitrify wastewater in the Chesapeake Bay area while cutting the chemical and financial costs required to complete the process along with reducing energy consumption.

Removing nitrogen helps prevent harmful algae growth in the water and is a critical element in DC Water’s requirement to clean wastewater to the highest possible level before discharging it back into the Potomac River, where it leads to the Bay.

Nitrogen and phosphorus lead to algal blooms in wastewater. When that happens, the health of marine life, from fish to crabs to dolphins, is jeopardized.

According to deBarbadillo, the typical treatment methods used by DC Water to eliminate nitrogen involves costly equipment and using anammox, which is expensive and consumes a tremendous amount of electricity.

“We are using a different pathway into the nitrogen cycle to more efficiently remove nitrogen and save energy and chemical costs,” deBarbadilo said.

DC Water is also working with the Water Research Foundation on the technology.

https://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/Washington-DC-Showcases-the-Architecture-of-Pumping-Water.html