Court Rejects Canoe Association Lawsuit Against WASA

April 30, 2004

A Clean Water Act lawsuit that sought to impose odor controls on D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) sewer pipes has been rejected by a federal court. The lawsuit, filed by the American Canoe Association and other environmental groups, charged that WASA violated the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System because of hydrogen sulfide emissions from city sewers, but the judge ruled that finding for the plaintiffs would open the floodgates to citizen lawsuits against wastewater treatment plant operators.

WASA is in the process of upgrading sewer vents with state-of-the-art odor controls. A copy of the opinion is attached.

Latest News

geopolymer downstream

As emergency repairs continue, today marks 27 days, nearly one month, with no overflow reaching the Potomac River.

Crews are making significant progress to reinforce the downstream section of pipe from the collapse site and completed 240 linear feet of geopolymer overnight. Crews are working to apply another layer of geopolymer today. The material is similar in strength to concrete and when applied restores the structural integrity of the pipe.

photo inside tunnel with geopolymer

Reinforcement of the upstream section of the Potomac Interceptor has been completed, marking the halfway point in emergency repairs following the January 19 sewer line collapse. Crews continue to advance repairs on schedule, with full project completion expected by mid-March.

John Cassidy, Matt Brown, David L. Gadis, and Moussa Wone giving technical briefing

DC Water today is releasing a comprehensive assessment detailing the condition of the Potomac Interceptor and our emergency response to the January 19 sanitary sewer line failure. This report provides ...

Upcoming Meeting

Board of Directors Meeting

April 24, 2023

Monday 9:00 AM

Announcement

Picture of new bike pedestrian path and traffic detour
New Path for Capital Crescent Trail Opens at Georgetown Waterfront Park

DC CLEAN RIVERS – POTOMAC RIVER TUNNEL PROJECT
If you bike, drive, or walk through Georgetown, we’ve got changes starting this week around the Potomac River Tunnel construction on Water Street NW. The Capital Crescent Trail has a new temporary detour through Georgetown Waterfront Park, open now for cyclists between 33rd and Potomac streets NW.

Latest Blog Post
A helicopter lowers a drill rig to workers on the Potomac River.
DC Water begins drilling in Potomac River to explore options to rehab underwater sewer line
When one of your major sewer lines runs through the Potomac River, a backhoe and trencher won't do. That's why we've got helicopters carrying a 14-ton drill and workers suspended midair over the Potomac.
Upcoming Meeting
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March 11, 2026
Wednesday, 9:30 AM

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Customer Service Center Announcement

Payment Plan Incentive: provides a credit back of 50% of the last 3 payments made. Eligible participants are residential customers who have had an outstanding balance for 60 days or greater and with an outstanding balance of $500 or more.