FJ Sayers Dam Master Plan Revision / Missions / Washington Aqueduct

Washington Aqueduct's statement on EPA’s proposed PFAS regulations

March 16, 2023: Washington Aqueduct is dedicated to executing its critical mission to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective drinking water for its customers, which includes a strong commitment to meeting upcoming U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).  Our team is evaluating the EPA’s Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation announced on March 14, 2023, and in tandem with our wholesale customers, is preparing to meet all EPA requirements once drinking water standards are finalized.

Please contact your respective direct water provider for additional information.

DC Water

Arlington County

Fairfax Water

 

Washington Aqueduct Overview

The Washington Aqueduct produces drinking water for approximately one million citizens living, working, or visiting in the District of Columbia, Arlington County, Virginia, and other areas in northern Virginia to include portions of Fairfax County. 

A division of the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Aqueduct is a federally owned and operated public water supply agency that produces an average of 135 million gallons of water per day at two treatment plants located in the District of Columbia. All funding for operations, maintenance, and capital improvements comes from revenue generated by selling drinking water to the three jurisdictions.

The Corps of Engineers designed, built, and, in 1859, began operating the Aqueduct. Since then, the Corps has substantially expanded and improved the capacity and function of the Aqueduct from its original mission of supplying raw river water to a sparsely populated District of Columbia to today’s mission of providing safe drinking water to a much larger and more populous service area.

Our Mission

The mission of the Washington Aqueduct is to collect, purify, and pump an adequate supply of drinking water for its wholesale customers: DC Water, Arlington County, and Fairfax Water. 

Our Vision

Washington Aqueduct's vision is to be a leader in the water treatment and supply industry employing state of the art technology, highly-skilled and trained personnel, creative solutions and modern processes.

Announcements

The United States Army Corps of Engineers – Baltimore District (USACE-NAB) has made a finding of adverse effect for the McMillan - North Clearwell Replacement Project pursuant to 36 CFR 800.5, in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHOA, 54 USC 306108). The McMillan North Clearwell is part of the Washington Aqueduct and is located on federal property in Washington, D.C. USACE-NAB finds that the implementation of the Project would adversely affect the 3 historic properties listed below.

  • North Clearwell
  • M6 – Control House
  • M20 – Flume Building

USACE is currently consulting with the DC Historic Preservation Office, Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Planning Commission, and other consulting parties to mitigate this adverse effect while prioritizing its critical mission to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective drinking water for its customers. If you have any questions about this process, please email us at NAB-PAO@usace.army.mil. 

 

USACE's How it Works E1 - Washington Aqueduct