DC Water Green Infrastructure Clarifications

The following are clarifications to an article in the Feb. 10 issue of The Georgetowner on DC Water’s plans for the Georgetown area. DC Water’s Downspout Disconnection Program is part of the Potomac River Green Infrastructure Project. The implementation of that program will “offset the amount of GI required in the right-of-way by reducing the amount of stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces (i.e. roofs)” and control the amount of runoff to combined-sewer outflows 027-029. CSOs 025 and 036 will be controlled “through targeted sewer separation,” while CSOs 020, 021, 022 and 024 will be controlled “through construction of the Potomac River Tunnel,” according to an email from DC Water to The Georgetowner.

Though obtained from DC Water’s website, the labels on the map of CSOs that we published in the last issue do not accurately show how each CSO will be modified or eliminated, although it does show their locations. The inset map in that issue, showing the route of the Potomac River Tunnel, is labeled as Recommended Plan. It has been relabeled DC Clean Rivers Project. DC Water also noted that the overflow of the combined sewer is currently discharged into Rock Creek, as well as the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers.

Green Infrastructure construction on the right-of-way is scheduled to occur from mid-2017 to 2019. Sewer separation construction is scheduled for 2021 to 2013, and construction on the Potomac River Tunnel is set for 2023 to 2030.