Throughout the month of April, DC Water will partner with District of Columbia councilmembers to host town hall meetings across the District. In these meetings, DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins discusses how rates are set and what is funded by ratepayer dollars. He also addresses DC Water’s environmental programs, future water and sewer projects and issues facing local communities.

“I look forward to the town hall meetings every year because I feel it is important to meet District residents in their communities to hear their concerns and to explain the benefits and necessity of our large capital projects,” said General Manager Hawkins. “In addition, we bring a team of DC Water staff to help residents with individual concerns related to their service or billing.”

Town hall meetings will be held in each ward and feature information on water quality, construction projects, employment, and customer service. Specific discussion topics will include water and sewer rates, drinking water, infrastructure, job opportunities and efforts to help clean local rivers. Mr. Hawkins will personally invite many DC residents to the meetings through a robocall of individuals who have contacted DC Water with questions or concerns in the past.

All town hall meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Locations will be posted online at dcwater.com/rates.

Dates are as follows:
- Ward 1: Tuesday, April 22
- Ward 2: Thursday, April 3
- Ward 3: Wednesday, April 23
- Ward 4: Thursday, April 10
- Ward 5: Thursday, April 17
- Ward 6: Tuesday, April 15
- Ward 7: Thursday, April 24
- Ward 8: Wednesday, April 9

Following the town hall meetings, the DC Water Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 6:30 pm. The public is encouraged to provide comments in person or in advance of the hearing. The Board is slated to vote on the proposed rate increases during the regularly scheduled Board meeting on July 3, 2014.

For more information on the public hearing, to sign up to testify, or to submit comments, please contact Linda Manley, Secretary to the Board, at 202-787-2332. For more information on the town hall meetings, please call Emanuel Briggs, Manager, Community Outreach at 202-787-2003.