DC Water’s wastewater collection system serves communities across the Washington region. A network of sewer pipes and pumping stations carries wastewater from homes and businesses—including areas as far away as Dulles International Airport in Virginia and communities in Montgomery County, Maryland—through the District to the Blue Plains Resource Recovery Facility, where it is treated before being safely returned to the environment. This includes:
- Approximately 1,800 miles of sanitary and combined sewers
- 16 stormwater stations
- 75,000 catch basins and manholes
- 22 flow-metering stations
- 9 wastewater pumping stations
In some parts of the District, rainwater and wastewater share the same pipes. During heavy rain, those pipes can fill up and overflow into local rivers. DC Water’s $3.2 billion Clean Rivers Program is addressing this problem by building a major tunnel system that will capture and reduce the amount of overflows released, helping to improve water quality and the health of the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and Rock Creek.
DC Water Sewer Program
DC Water is investing over $1 billion in our Sewer Program to upgrade nearly 2,000 miles of aging pipes and modernize the sewer system.
About this Program
Every day, thousands of miles of underground sewer pipes carry wastewater away from homes, schools, businesses, and hospitals. Much of this system was built generations ago. As these pipes age, they become more likely to crack or collapse, leading to closed streets, service disruptions, environmental harm, and costly emergency repairs. We must renew our sewer system.
The Challenge
Most of the pipes in our sewer system are 85 years old and 70% of our major sewers have severe problems.
Without upgrades, more pipes could break. This means homes or businesses could be without sewer service or a sewage spill could harm our parks or rivers.
The Solution
We’re acting now to renew our sewer system. Over the next several years, we’ll repair aging sewer pipes across the District.
We’ll use technology that lets us restore pipes with less digging. When a pipe cannot be repaired, we’ll replace it.
The Benefits
Planning and investing in sewer projects now will save money over time.
It will also protect public health and help keep sewer service reliable for years to come.
Sewer Projects
The Sewer Program includes many projects in neighborhoods across the District. Enter your zip code or select your ward to see sewer projects near you. To view any DC Water project in your neighborhood, visit our projects page.
