DC Water

“This is confusing and obviously disappointing to me.”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

This past Saturday, my main drain got backed up. I called DC water and they said I needed a plumbing company to try to open it up and if that doesn’t work, they needed the plumbing company to report the location of the blockage.

A plumbing company came and determined the location and called DC water. DC water said it was outside my property line. The property line is 30 feet from the curb, and that puts the line a few feet away from my basement door under the porch. The next day, DC water sent some crew to confirm the location and they also confirmed the location. However, they said they couldn’t dig the stairs, because it’s structural and they can only dig up to the stairs and I am responsible for digging up the stairs. (more…)

“DC Water celebrates construction end in Bloomingdale/LeDroit Park”

By Prince Of Petworth


100 block of Rhode Island Ave, NW in 2012

From DC Water:

“When: Saturday, June 3, 2017

Where: 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Crispus Attucks Park, 23 U Street NW is in the alley complex between the unit blocks of U Street and V Street NW. Access the park through the alley entrances on the north side of U Street NW and the south side of V Street NW.

The purpose of the festival is to show appreciation to the community for enduring three years of heavy construction and to celebrate the operation of the First Street Tunnel system designed to mitigate flooding in the Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park neighborhoods. The event also celebrates the Bryant Street Pumping Station Discharge Piping Replacement Project and the Small Diameter Water Main Replacement Project, all begun and completed since 2011.”

Well this can’t be good

By Prince Of Petworth

Kevin writes:

“What’s up with my water? Cut off for a few minutes, and this is coming out of the taps now. (Taylor St NW)”

DC Water tweets:

“Flushing tap water for 15 mins should clear it up. If it doesn’t disappear after 15 mins contact the Drinking Water Division at 202-612-3440”

It’s that time of year – Your Water May Smell Like a Swimming Pool – Fear Not!

By Prince Of Petworth

pool water
Photo by PoPville flickr user Chabelamarie

From DC Water:

“From March 20 through April 17, 2017, the disinfectant in drinking water will temporarily switch from chloramine to chlorine. During this time, you may notice a slight change in the taste and smell of your drinking water.

DC Water purchases treated drinking water from the Washington Aqueduct. Every year for four to five weeks, the Aqueduct switches disinfectants from chloramine back to chlorine to flush out the water distribution system and improve water quality. During the temporary switch, DC Water will also conduct system-wide flushing to enhance water quality. This program is a common practice for many U.S. water systems that normally use chloramine throughout the year. The Washington Aqueduct will continue to add a corrosion control inhibitor during this temporary switch to prevent lead release.

DC Water routinely collects and tests water samples to monitor for chloramine and chlorine levels throughout the city and will continue to do so during this period. You can view the latest test results here. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the safe use of chlorine and chloramine.

To reduce the taste or smell of chlorine, DC Water recommends: (more…)

Buckle Up Bloomingdale – “DC Water will replace close to a mile of 8-inch and 12-inch water mains”

By Prince Of Petworth

dc-water
“DC Water contractor crews performing water pipe replacements earlier this year. Courtesy David Kidd.”

From a press release:

“This week, DC Water began work to replace old water mains in the Bloomingdale neighborhood in Northwest, DC. Some of the water mains in the neighborhood were installed in the late 1800s and are past their useful life. In fact, there have been about 25 water main breaks in the area since 2000, most of them occurring in just two blocks.

DC Water will replace close to a mile of 8-inch and 12-inch water mains. In addition to improving system reliability, the replacement program will also provide increased water pressure and unimpeded water flows. Within the same program, the Authority will also replace fire hydrants, valves and service lines located in public property. DC Water will replace any lead service lines in public space and will also offer to replace the private side (on homeowners’ private property) at the same time—at the homeowners’ expense, a cost-effective measure since the contractors will already be excavating in the neighborhood. (more…)

An Unfortunate Juxtaposition

By Prince Of Petworth

WaterIsLife

Thanks to a reader for sending:

“As you walk from Yards Park, along the Anacostia, toward the Stadium (Anacostia Riverwalk Trail). Note the “DC Water is life” logo on the truck juxtaposed with the tremendous amount of trash in the Anacostia River. Taken in front of DC Water.”

“DC Water to build first new water tower in 71 years”

By Prince Of Petworth

st e

From DC Water:

“After more than 10 years in the planning and approval process, DC Water is moving forward with the St. Elizabeths water storage tower. Construction is slated to begin in the coming weeks, and is scheduled for completion in 2018.

Some areas east of the Anacostia River have historically experienced low water pressure. DC Water planned years ago to improve the pressure with a new pumping station, water tower and transmission mains. Together, these elements would create a new water service zone (new pressure area) south of the Ft. Stanton area. While the pumping station was built in 2008, the water storage tower was delayed in approvals and permitting. (more…)

“DC Water’s required lead testing program mark the lowest lead levels measured in more than a decade”

By Prince Of Petworth

good water
Photo by PoPville flickr user District Shots

In happier water news:

“Recent results from DC Water’s required lead testing program mark the lowest lead levels measured in more than a decade. Levels have continued to decline since 2004, when the water treatment process began including a corrosion control additive to reduce lead release in water. Since 2003, DC Water has replaced more than 20,000 lead service pipes on public property, representing the removal of nearly 118 miles of lead pipes that connect public water mains to household plumbing. DC Water replaces lead service pipes during water main upgrades or when customers choose to replace their portion of the service pipe on private property. DC Water reminds customers that lead sources are different in each property and urges residents to eliminate lead pipes and plumbing materials in their homes. (more…)

Dear PoP – Why does a swimming pool come out of my faucet?

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo from PoPville flickr user hellomarkers!

“Dear PoP,

I’ve noticed for the past few months that the water in my apartment smells very very strongly of chlorine. When I take a shower, it smells like I got out of the pool, when I cook with the water straight from the tap, my food tastes off. I’m now filtering all the water I use for drinking and cooking, but the brita filter’s not strong enough to remove the chlorine smell. At first my roommate and I thought it was just us, but I’ve noticed it at friends’ houses, and now one of my co-workers who also lives in northwest just mentioned it at his place.

Is this a sign of something horrendous in the DC water supply that they’re trying to cover up with chlorine? An attempt to destroy the city’s sense of smell? Is it dangerous to be ingesting this much chlorine?

Does anyone know the reason for it?”

I know folks have been mentioning this in some random reader rant and/or revel posts. But I can’t recall – did anyone ever figure out the reason? WASA?

I’ve heard folks talking about this Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights and Dupont but I haven’t noticed it in Petworth. Is this phenomena city wide?

Dear PoP – What’s Up With DC’s Drinking Water?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I recently moved into DC from Arlington, and while I’m loving the change, I’m not so thrilled with how my tap water tastes. Even filtered through my Brita pitcher, it has a not-so-delicious “metallic sewage” scent and flavor. I don’t want to go to bottled water – expensive and wasteful – so I was wondering if any readers had suggestions on undersink or other types of filters that worked well in DC? I was reading the annual water quality drinking report (http://www.dcwasa.com/waterquality/waterquality_reports.cfm), and it identified some specific problems in DC water, so I was hoping someone had already done all the research about what was the best filter to remove those particular contaminants!

Thanks,

Thirsty Reader”

This is a great question. The best solution I’ve come up with is that I use a brita filter on my tap and then I pour that water directly into a brita pitcher for a double filtration. And if all else fails I then mix in a healthy dose of powdered iced-tea mix… What sort of filters do you guys use?