2008 Annual Report - DC Water

Water is the key
to virtually all living things
Water is essential to every dimension of life. The services provided by the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority
(DC WASA) — safe, reliable drinking water and effective wastewater treatment — are paramount to the health and welfare of our
citizens and communities.
When we turn on the tap, we expect water to flow from the faucet. When we flush the toilet we expect wastewater to be carried
away. When used water is returned to our waterways, we expect it to be safe for aquatic life. These services, that we take for
granted, are made possible by huge, complex networks of treatment plants, pumping stations and underground pipes.
The District of Columbia is not unlike older cities and towns across the country with aging infrastructure that is near the end of
its useful life. Some of our pipelines are more than 100 years old. DC WASA continues to invest in replacements, upgrades and
new technology to operate and maintain the critical water and sewer systems that are essential to life in the nation’s capital and
surrounding communities.