District of Columbia – The Nation’s Capital – Water Quality Report 2025: PFAS Testing, Infrastructure Concerns & Safety across your state
The District of Columbia’s water infrastructure serves over 700,000 residents and millions of visitors in the nation’s capital through one of the country’s most advanced water systems. DC Water, one of the largest water utilities in the United States, operates extensive networks including over 1,300 miles of water mains and 1,800 miles of sewers. The District’s water supply comes from the nearby Potomac River via the Washington Aqueduct, a federally-owned treatment facility operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ensuring high-quality source water protection.
DC’s water system faces unique challenges as both a federal district and urban center. The utility has made significant investments in modernizing aging infrastructure, with particular focus on the ambitious Lead Free DC program launched in 2019 to replace all lead service lines in the District. DC Water has received over $20.9 million in federal infrastructure investments from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address drinking water safety, lead pipe replacement, and emerging contaminant removal. The District’s commitment to water quality excellence is demonstrated through comprehensive monitoring programs that test over 40,000 samples annually and partnerships with federal agencies to ensure safe, reliable water access for residents, federal workers, and visitors to the nation’s capital.
District of Columbia Water Quality: Current Status (2024-2025)
System-wide Compliance and Excellence
- Outstanding Water Quality: DC Water’s test results consistently surpass EPA water quality standards, with comprehensive monitoring programs testing over 40,000 samples annually from across the District.
- PFAS Monitoring Leadership: Current PFAS test results from 27 samples collected over recent years show levels below new EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels, with quarterly voluntary monitoring exceeding federal requirements.
- Federal Infrastructure Investment: Over $20.9 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding allocated to DC for water infrastructure improvements, with additional grant funding supporting critical upgrades and emerging contaminant treatment.
Source Water Protection and Treatment
- Potomac River System: High-quality source water from the Potomac River is treated at the federally-owned Washington Aqueduct, providing exceptional protection through advanced treatment processes.
- Infrastructure Modernization: Ongoing investments in the 1,300-mile water main network and 1,800-mile sewer system, including the ambitious Potomac River Tunnel Project for enhanced wastewater management.
- Clean Rivers Initiative: Major capital improvements including tunneling projects to reduce combined sewer overflows and protect the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers.
Lead Service Line Replacement Leadership
- Lead Free DC Program: Comprehensive initiative launched in 2019 to replace all estimated 42,000 lead and galvanized service lines in the District, prioritizing vulnerable populations and historically underserved communities.
- Federal Compliance: Meeting new EPA Lead and Copper Rule Improvements requiring full lead pipe replacement within 10 years, with DC already ahead of the national timeline.
- Customer Partnership Programs: Multiple replacement programs available including utility-initiated replacements and customer-requested upgrades, with comprehensive mapping and construction dashboards for transparency.
Emerging Contaminant Response
- PFAS Compliance Readiness: Current monitoring shows PFAS levels below EPA’s new 4 parts per trillion limits for PFOA and PFOS, with quarterly testing programs exceeding regulatory requirements.
- Advanced Treatment Capabilities: DC Water maintains state-of-the-art treatment technologies and is prepared to implement additional PFAS removal systems if needed to meet 2029 compliance deadlines.
- Source Water Protection: Active partnerships with federal agencies and regional utilities to protect the Potomac River watershed and prevent contaminant introduction at the source.
Federal District Infrastructure
- Unique Federal Partnership: Water treatment provided through the Washington Aqueduct, a federally-owned facility operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ensuring national security-level protection.
- Capital Investment Programs: Major infrastructure projects including the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade and extensive tunnel construction for improved system reliability.
- Technical Excellence: Enhanced technical assistance through federal partnerships, ensuring access to cutting-edge treatment technologies and water quality expertise.
Looking Forward: 2025-2030
The District of Columbia’s water quality infrastructure represents a national model for urban water management, combining federal oversight with local innovation. DC Water’s proactive approach to lead service line replacement, comprehensive PFAS monitoring, and substantial federal infrastructure investments positions the District as a leader in addressing both legacy and emerging water quality challenges. The completion of the Lead Free DC program by 2030, coupled with continued federal support for infrastructure modernization, ensures that residents of the nation’s capital will continue to receive water quality that exceeds national standards while serving as a benchmark for other major metropolitan areas.
Recommendations for District of Columbia Residents
Check Your Service Line Status
Use DC Water’s Service Line Inventory Map to determine if your property has lead service lines. Contact DC Water at 202-787-4044 for free water testing and information about the Lead Free DC replacement program.
Review Annual Water Quality Reports
Access DC Water’s Annual Water Quality Report online to review test results from over 40,000 samples. Stay informed about PFAS monitoring results and ongoing infrastructure improvements in your neighborhood.
Consider Lead-Safe Precautions
If you have lead service lines awaiting replacement, consider NSF-certified filters for additional protection. Flush taps after periods of non-use and use only cold water for drinking and cooking.
Report Water Quality Issues
Contact DC Water’s Emergency Command Center at 202-612-3400 for water and sewer emergencies. Report taste, odor, or discoloration concerns immediately for prompt investigation and response.
Support Infrastructure Investment
Stay informed about DC Water’s capital improvement projects and rate adjustments needed to maintain the nation’s capital water infrastructure. Practice water conservation to support system sustainability.
District of Columbia Areas We Cover
Washington DC Water Quality
Comprehensive analysis of DC Water’s system serving the nation’s capital, including information on Potomac River source water, federal treatment processes, Lead Free DC program, and PFAS monitoring in the District.
As the federal district, Washington DC represents the entire District of Columbia water service area. DC Water provides comprehensive water and wastewater services to all residents, federal facilities, and businesses within the District boundaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Washington DC’s tap water safe to drink?
Yes, DC Water consistently surpasses EPA water quality standards and tests over 40,000 samples annually to ensure safety and reliability.
The District benefits from high-quality Potomac River source water treated at the federally-owned Washington Aqueduct. Water is essentially lead-free when it leaves the treatment facility, though some older homes may have lead service lines that are being systematically replaced through the Lead Free DC program. DC Water’s comprehensive monitoring programs exceed federal requirements and current PFAS test results show levels below new EPA standards.
What is the Lead Free DC program?
Lead Free DC is an ambitious initiative to replace all estimated 42,000 lead and galvanized service lines in the District by 2030.
Launched in 2019, the program prioritizes replacements for vulnerable populations and historically underserved communities. DC Water operates multiple replacement programs including utility-initiated replacements and customer-requested upgrades. The program aims for full lead service line replacement rather than partial replacement, which can temporarily increase lead levels. Residents can check the Service Line Inventory Map to determine their service line material and request free water testing.
How can I access my water quality information?
DC residents can access comprehensive water quality data through several official sources:
• Annual Water Quality Reports: Available online at dcwater.com detailing test results from over 40,000 annual samples and compliance with EPA standards
• Service Line Map: Interactive online map showing the material of your specific service line and replacement program status
• PFAS Testing Results: Quarterly monitoring results posted online showing current contaminant levels compared to EPA limits
• Construction Dashboard: Real-time updates on infrastructure projects and lead line replacements in your neighborhood
What makes DC’s water system unique?
DC’s water system benefits from unique federal oversight and advanced infrastructure investments:
Federal Treatment Facility: Water is treated at the Washington Aqueduct, a federally-owned facility operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, providing national security-level source water protection
Advanced Infrastructure: Major capital projects including the Potomac River Tunnel Project and Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant represent cutting-edge water management technology
Federal Investment: DC receives dedicated federal infrastructure funding including $20.9 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for water system improvements
Urban Innovation: As the nation’s capital, DC Water serves as a model for other major metropolitan areas in lead pipe replacement, PFAS monitoring, and infrastructure modernization
Contaminants of Concern
Lead Service Lines
Source: Older homes built before the 1980s typically have lead service lines connecting city water supply to household plumbing, affecting an estimated 42,000 properties in DC
Health Effects: No level of lead exposure is considered safe, with particular risks to children including neurological development impacts, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems
Current Status: Lead Free DC program systematically replacing all lead service lines by 2030, with priority given to vulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities EPA Action Level: 15 parts per billion, though there is no known safe level of lead exposure
PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
Source: Industrial manufacturing, firefighting foam use at military facilities, consumer products including non-stick cookware, stain-resistant textiles, and food packaging materials
Health Effects: Linked to kidney and testicular cancer, liver damage, immune system suppression, high cholesterol, and developmental effects in children and infants
Current Status: DC Water’s current test results from 27 samples show PFAS levels below new EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels, with quarterly voluntary monitoring exceeding federal requirements EPA Limits: 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS individually, with hazard index for other PFAS compounds taking effect in 2029
Please read – our information
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