A New Tunnel for the Potomac

DC Water, DC Water Breaks Ground On Potomac River Tunnel Project

Today DC Water hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to officially commence construction activities for the Potomac River Tunnel Project at West Potomac Park. The Potomac River Tunnel is the next major phase of the DC Clean Rivers Project, which is DC Water's ongoing program to improve the water quality of the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and Rock Creek by increasing the capacity of the sewer system.

The Project consists of a large-diameter deep sewer tunnel, diversion facilities, drop shafts, and support structures to capture flows from existing combined sewer overflows (CSOs) along the Potomac River and convey them to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. The 5.5-mile-long tunnel will be completed in 2030, providing a 93% reduction in the volume of CSOs to the Potomac River in an average year of rainfall.
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Congresswoman Norton said, “During my time in office, I have worked with DC Water to improve the water systems in the District of Columbia. Since 2003, I have secured annually a special federal appropriation for the Clean Rivers Project, totaling approximately 300 million dollars, which is being used for construction of the Potomac River Tunnel. I look forward to seeing the continued improvements DC Water is making and to working with DC Water to provide funding for these essential investments.”

CSOs impair water quality by increasing water bacteria levels, which negatively impacts aquatic life, and contributes to an increase in the amount of trash in waterways. An estimated 654 million gallons of CSOs currently enter the Potomac River each year by way of average rainfall. This project was established in accordance with the 2005 Federal Consent Decree entered by DC Water, the District of Columbia, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Department of Justice, as amended in January 2016.

The 18-foot-diameter tunnel will run deep underground beneath the Georgetown waterfront, along the edge of the National Mall and East Potomac Park, past Hains Point and connect by gravity to the existing Anacostia River Tunnel. Construction will require two tunnel boring machines. Starting from West Potomac Park, one machine will mine south through mostly soft ground, and another machine will head north to bore through rock.

This is a good thing. The only aspect that bothers me is the federal grant to DC for construction, $300 million out of $800 million. I think cities should pay to clean up their own shit.