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Clean water is essential for human and animal life, for commerce and industry, and for recreation. Drinking water in the District of Columbia comes from the Potomac River, upstream of the District.
Our main waterways are the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers and Rock Creek. The District is also part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
DDOE has three divisions dedicated to water:
- Regulates construction sites for stormwater management and sediment and erosion control.
- Educates District residents, students and teachers on the benefits of environmental stewardship.
- Assesses the health of watersheds and habitats, and sponsors community restoration activities such as tree planting and drain marking.
- Promotes the use of low-impact development and offers incentives to property owners to reduce stormwater runoff.
- Provides total chlorine and total coliform tests for drinking water.
- Provides water quality certification for draft pollutant discharge permits.
- Certifies dredge and fill permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The DC Water and Sewer Authority (DC WASA) provides drinking water to District residents and businesses, collects and treats wastewater, and maintains fire hydrants in the District. DC WASA is a semi-autonomous regional entity that is not part of DDOE or the District Government.
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