LATEST NEWS
Boil water advisory in the District of Columbia: Affected areas and what happens if you drink tap water
DC Water issues advisory for the District of Columbia, the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery and Reagan National Airport
The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) issued a Boil Water Advisory on Thursday, July 4 for all customers in the District of Columbia, as well as the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery and Reagan National Airport, due to a drop in water supply from the Washington Aqueduct.
This is described as “a precautionary notice” due to water of unknown quality. Residents are warned not to drink water without boiling it first.
DC Water customers should:
- Discard any beverages and ice made after 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
- Run cold water prior to boiling.
- Run cold water for 2 minutes if known sources of lead are present prior to boiling.
- Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute and let it cool.
- Store cooled water in a clean, covered container.
Cooled, boiled water or bottled water should be used for:
- Drinking
- Brushing teeth
- Preparing and cooking food
- Washing fruits and vegetables
- Preparing infant formula
- Making ice
- Washing dishes by hand
- Giving water to pets
Residents are reminded not to use home filtering devices in place of boiled or bottled water.
The US Army Corps of Engineers found that turbidity, or cloudiness in the water, at the Dalecarlia Water Treatment Plant reduced production. This leaves only the McMillan Treatment Plant at full production. In order to ensure that fire hydrants would have enough water supply, this turbid water from Dalecarlia was pumped into the supply and it is for this reason that the advisory was released.
Turbidity may indicate the presence of bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea and associated headaches. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.
There is no information that the water is contaminated, only that further testing is required. Until such time as the water can be shown to be safe, it is advised that all water be boiled before being consumed.