DC Water is a ratepayer-funded, not-for-profit utility that supplies drinking water and wastewater services to the District of Columbia and provides wholesale wastewater treatment for surrounding counties in Maryland and Virginia. It serves more than 700,000 residents with drinking water and more than 25m annual visitors, while its wholesale wastewater operations cover a population of 1.8m.
The utility's technical remit spans water treatment and distribution, wastewater treatment, infrastructure management, water supply resilience and lead pipe remediation. Its physical plant includes 1,300 miles of interconnected pipe, four pumping stations, four reservoirs, three water tanks, 43,860 valves and 9,510 fire hydrants - an asset base that generates continuous operational, monitoring and maintenance work at scale.
Two flagship programmes define its current engineering agenda. The Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant treats wastewater for the District and the wider region, while Pure Water DC is designed to strengthen the resilience of the water supply. Alongside these, Lead Free DC removes lead pipes at no cost to customers, combining field remediation with public-health objectives.
DC Water describes its mission in terms of public health, environmental protection and economic vitality, and states a commitment to superior service, ingenuity and environmental stewardship. It aims to be a world-class water utility and to advance the health and well-being of a diverse workforce and the neighbourhoods it serves.
