Prativa Gurung, Senior Financial Analyst
DC Water Investor Relations
DC Water Investor Relations
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(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:
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:
Residents in the affected areas should:
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:
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.
