Section 10-A622. E-4.5 DRINKING WATER SAFETY

 

622.1Drinking water quality in the District is impacted by land use in the Potomac Basin and by the condition of the city’s water distribution system. Runoff from upstream development, dairy and hog farms, and other agricultural and mining uses presents an ongoing threat to water supply. Even if our water supply were pristine, however, the pipes used to transport water from treatment facilities to individual customers would affect water quality. Some of these pipes are more than 100 years old and are in poor condition. Problems with old, leaky water pipes are compounded by hundreds of “cross connections” with sewer lines, and “dead ends” where water does not adequately circulate. 622.1

 

622.2A related water supply issue is exposure to lead. Lead may enter our drinking water as a result of corrosion of pipes and plumbing fixtures. Lead service lines between the distribution system and individual homes are relatively common in the city, comprising about 23,000 of the District’s 130,000 service lines. While the risk of lead poisoning is very low for most, it can be more significant for infants and children. Tests conducted in 2004 showed elevated levels of lead in tap water, prompting a collaborative effort by the DC Water and Sewer Authority, the EPA, and the District Department of Health to accelerate service line replacement, increase monitoring, and enact corrosion control measures. 622.2

 

622.3Policy E-4.5.1: Drinking Water Safety

 

Ensure the safety of the city’s drinking water supply and distribution system. Maintain sustained efforts to reduce health hazards associated with lead and other contaminants. 622.3

 

622.4Action E-4.5.A: Lead Pipe Testing and Replacement

 

Aggressively implement programs to test for lead, replace lead feeder pipes, and educate the community on safe drinking water issues and stagnant water control. 622.4

 

622.5Action E-4.5.B: Source Water Protection

 

Implement measures to protect natural systems and abate pollution sources in the Potomac Basin that could potentially impact the District’s drinking water quality. 622.5

 

622.6Action E-4.5.C: Interagency Working Group

 

Create an interagency working group on safe drinking water to address drinking water emergencies; coordination between DCWASA and DOH, and expanded public education on water supply. 622.6

 

notation

The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.