The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) has issued a boil water advisory for certain areas of Northwest and Northeast D.C. after a temporary loss of water pressure occurred on Friday, January 19, 2024. This advisory is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of customers in the impacted area.

DC Water collected a second round of water samples from seven locations in the affected areas and sent them to their laboratory for analysis. The results of these tests are expected to be available on Sunday morning. In addition, the first round of samples collected on Friday evening is currently being processed and will be analyzed tonight.

Once two consecutive days of clear samples have been obtained, DC Water will lift the boil water advisory. As of now, it is anticipated that the advisory will be lifted on Sunday. This decision will be made based on the absence of bacteria in the water samples.

Customers in the impacted area are advised to follow certain guidelines until the advisory is lifted. They should run cold water until clear, especially if it appears discolored. If known sources of lead are present, customers should run cold water for 2 minutes and, if possible, use a NSF/ANSI Standard 53 lead-certified filter before boiling the water for 1 minute and allowing it to cool. Any cooled, boiled water or bottled water should be stored in a clean, covered container.

DC Water has assured customers that there is currently no information indicating that the water is contaminated. However, the advisory has been issued as a precautionary measure during the testing process.

DC Water received reports of low or no water pressure on the afternoon of January 19, 2024, in multiple locations in Northwest DC. The cause of the pressure loss is still under investigation, but crews have restored system pressure to the impacted area.

The loss of pressure in the distribution system could have potentially allowed for the entry of contaminants or disease-causing organisms. However, DC Water has taken steps to flush the water system in the affected area to minimize any possible risks.

Customers in the impact area are encouraged to check the interactive map on dcwater.com or contact the 24-Hour Command Center to determine if they are included in the boil water advisory.

For any water quality concerns, customers can reach out to the Department of Water Quality. All other general inquiries should be directed to DC Water Customer Service or the Office of Marketing and Communications.

DC Water will continue to provide updates and information through their website, including bilingual FAQs for easy understanding of the situation.

As this advisory remains in effect, it is important for affected customers to adhere to the guidelines provided by DC Water until it is officially lifted on Sunday, pending clear test results.