DC Water is pleased to present the 2014 Drinking Water Quality Report. The report includes information about where the District’s tap water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to federal drinking water standards. It summarizes water quality testing conducted in 2013 and also includes the 2014 test results from DC Water’s new unregulated contaminant monitoring program. This is the first year that DC Water is testing for unregulated compounds in accordance with federal regulation. The testing will help the Environmental Protection Agency evaluate the occurrence of these compounds and determine if they should be regulated in the future. Details about unregulated contaminant testing and results from our routine monitoring can be found in the 2014 Drinking Water Quality Report, which is now accessible online at dcwater.com/testresults. A notice of its availability will be mailed to every household in the District by July 1, 2014.

The annual publication is a summary of the regulatory and voluntary water testing programs that help DC Water protect the drinking water supply and provide reliable water service to the nation’s capital. The 2014 report shows that drinking water in the District continues to meet or surpass national water standards. In 2013, we conducted more than 40,000 tests on water samples from fire hydrants, commercial buildings and residences. Our extensive water quality testing programs ensure that safe, great tasting drinking water is delivered to every tap.

"Each day, we deliver more than 106 million gallons of affordable, clean drinking water to residents, visitors and businesses. Our most important job is to protect public health," said DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins. "This report highlights another year of that work, and explains why customers can have every confidence in their tap water."

Drinking water quality is a responsibility shared by DC Water, residents and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington Aqueduct. The Washington Aqueduct collects and treats water from the Potomac River and DC Water purchases the treated drinking water from the Aqueduct for distribution to more than 600,000 residents and businesses. Commercial and residential customers are responsible for maintaining interior plumbing and the portion of the water service pipe on private property. For tips on maintaining water quality on private property, download the DC Water Household Water Quality Guide or Commercial Building Water Quality Brochure from dcwater.com.

Printed copies of the Drinking Water Quality Report are available by request from the External Affairs Office at (202) 787-2200. For information about drinking water quality, please contact the Drinking Water Division at (202) 612-3440 or visit www.dcwater.com/drinking_water.