Utilities

“a $15,611.19 water bill, claiming we used more than one million gallons of water. This is not humanly or scientifically possible”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Pablo Raw

“Dear PoPville,

In early February, DC Water sent our 4-unit condo building in Shaw/Logan Circle a $15,611.19 water bill, claiming we used more than one million gallons of water. This is not humanly or scientifically possible. The bill itself even eludes to that, noting that the $15,611.19 charge is based on their estimate of our water use – because they’d discovered our building’s meter wasn’t working properly.

Our condo building quickly sent DC Water a formal response via email seeking answers – ranging from why DC Water didn’t notify us there was a problem with our building’s meter, to why 45-days is considered appropriate notice when requiring a building to supposedly pay for over a year’s worth of water usage, to what’s the protocol to set up a meeting with DC Water to discuss the matter and so on. We received an automatic reply from DC Water saying our letter was received, but there was no further correspondence from DC Water.

Receiving no response, we resent the email and once again received an automatic reply acknowledging receipt. This time, we wised up and also sent our formal response letter via certified mail to DC Water. Thanks to USPS, we knew that was also delivered and received by DC Water…. And you guessed it, no response. (more…)

“Over the course of the construction of the first street tunnel, our home started to exhibit cracks in the dry wall that were indicative of foundation damage.”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoPville,

DC Water started construction on the First Street Tunnel project in Bloomingdale in 2014. Before construction began, they visited most homes in the neighborhood to perform pre-construction surveys and document existing home conditions. We completed this survey because the construction of the tunnel would happen less than 100 feet from our house.

Over the course of the construction of the tunnel, our home started to exhibit cracks in the dry wall that were indicative of foundation damage. The addition to our home, built in the early 2000s started to pull away from the original house. A structural engineer and a foundation repair company both confirmed the damage, which was not present in the pre-construction survey nor in our home inspection completed in 2013.

At the conclusion of the project, DC Water sent requests for claims associated with the construction to be managed by their insurance company, ESIS. I filled out the claim, provided documentation and they followed up with site vists from not one, but THREE engineers of their own. (more…)

Well this sucks

By Prince Of Petworth

Silver lining: By Monday we oughta cool down to 92 degrees. Oof. Thanks to Andrew for sending:

“Pepco turning off electricity for customers around the Sherman and Irving area. Shutting off my whole building at 3101 Sherman. Heard other neighbors shut off as well.”

“Pepco charging us $2251 to fix meter box!”

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear Popville,

Our meter box came loose from the wall and PEPCO issued our 3-unit building a 15-day notice to fix the box or they would shut off the electricity. Of course, PEPCO claims that the box and meters are the owner’s responsibility, not theirs. Yet they are charging us $2,251 to turn off the power so that our electrician can reaffix the box to the wall. Not to mention the $200 city inspector permit (also required by PEPCO), the several thousand dollars owed to the electrician for time and materials for waiting in line at the permit office, calling PEPCO dozens of times to arrange and schedule the outage and repairs, and doing the actual rescrewing of the box to the wall.

Has this happened to anyone else? Do we have any recourse with PEPCO? These fees are obscene! The repair was originally quoted for $200 and, due to PEPCO, this project is going to cost us nearly $5,000!”

“Street Pipes Broken for Three Weeks. Seems like a lot of wasted potable water.”

By Prince Of Petworth

Dear PoPville-

We have broken water pipes at 7th and Hamlin NE that have been releasing water for three weeks. I called DC Water three weeks ago reporting it and they said they would send someone to fix it. Two weeks ago my ANC SMD commissioner reached out to DC Water, who said it would be fixed within two weeks.

The picture (above) was taken Sunday.

Is it reasonable for DC Water to not make this a priority? Seems like a lot of wasted potable 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…)

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