D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1306

IN-2.1 Wastewater System

Effective Aug 21, 2021Authority: Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)). Source: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).District of Columbia, Office of the Secretary

1306 IN-2.1 WASTEWATER SYSTEM

1306.1 DC Water is responsible for wastewater collection and transmission in the District, including operation and maintenance of the sanitary sewer system. DC Water operates 1,800 miles of sanitary and combined sewers, 160 flow meters, nine wastewater pumping stations, 16 stormwater pumping stations, 12 inflatable dams, and a swirl facility. With a total service area of approximately 725 square miles, DC Water also treats wastewater for approximately 1.6 million people in neighboring jurisdictions, including Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. In addition, DC Water is responsible for the 50-mile-long Potomac Interceptor System, which provides conveyance of wastewater from areas in Virginia and Maryland to the Blue Plains Treatment Plant.

1306.2 According to Climate Ready DC, stormwater and sewer collection systems will likely need to manage more frequent and severe rain events and potential inundation from sea level rise and coastal storms. Washington, DC is working to ensure water infrastructure will be able to meet future demand by enhancing the efficiency and resilience of the system.

1306.3 DC Water's Blue Plains WTP is located at the southernmost tip of Washington, DC, covering more than 150 acres partially fronting the Potomac River. Blue Plains is the largest advanced wastewater treatment facility in the world. It treats an annual average of 290 mgd and has a design capacity of 384 mgd, with a peak design capacity to treat more than one billion gallons per day.

1306.4 DC Water's CIP budget includes significant capital investment in several large projects, such as the Biosolids Management Program, DC Clean Rivers, and the Blue Plains Total Nitrogen Program. As of 2016, the 10-year CIP totals $3.75 billion, with a lifetime budget of $10.95 billion.

1306.4a Text Box: Biosolids Management Program

The Walter F. Bailey Bioenergy Facility, which is now operational, significantly reduces DC Water's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The innovative thermal hydrolysis process uses intense heat and pressure to treat wastewater solids, producing a much cleaner biosolid and on-site generation of up to one-third of Blue Plains' electricity needs, enough electricity to power 11,000 homes, and cutting DC Water's electricity bill at Blue Plains by one-third. The increased energy independence will reduce the financial burden on ratepayers while also helping to keep Washington, DC's rivers clean and reducing its carbon footprint.

1306.4b DC Water processes up to 370 mgd of wastewater and separates approximately 400 tons of solids from that water daily. Before the biodigesters were built, DC Water produced 1,200 tons of solids a day that had to be trucked off Blue Plains at

a cost to ratepayers of more than $17 million annually and more than two million trucking miles. This new thermal hydrolysis process has resulted in operational efficiencies in biosolids hauling and chemicals costs.

1306.5 Policy IN-2.1.1: Improving Wastewater Collection and Treatment

Provide for the safe and efficient collection and treatment of wastewater generated by the District's households and businesses. Ensure that new development does not exceed wastewater system capacity.

1306.6 Policy IN-2.1.2: Investing in Wastewater Treatment Facilities

The Blue Plains treatment plant should be maintained and upgraded as needed to meet capacity needs to accommodate growth in the District and to incorporate technological advances in wastewater treatment. Provide sustained capital investment in the District's sewer and stormwater collection system to maintain and sustain capacity. Construct the Clean Rivers Project to control combined sewer overflows and meet water quality standards. Continue to reduce overflows of untreated sewage and improve the quality of effluent discharged to surface waters.

1306.7 Policy IN-2.1.3: Unauthorized Storm Sewer Connections

Continue to take appropriate measures when illegal stormwater and sanitary sewer lines outside of the combined sanitary and stormwater system area are identified. These corrective measures include penalties and termination of service to abate unauthorized connections.

1306.8 Action IN-2.1.A: Wastewater Collection and Treatment Capital Improvement Program

Continue to implement wastewater treatment improvements as identified in the DC Water CIP. Collection system projects include the replacement of undersized, aging, or deteriorated sewers; the installation of sewers to serve areas of new development or redevelopment; replacement and rehabilitation of pumping station force mains; and the Clean Rivers Project. Capital projects are required to rehabilitate, upgrade, or provide new facilities at Blue Plains to ensure that it can reliably meet its NPDES permit requirements now and in the future.

1306.9 Action IN-2.1.B: On-site Wastewater Treatment

Encourage the use of on-site water collection and reuse systems for any Planned Unit Development. On-site water systems collect stormwater and treat it so that it can be reused in a building or at the local, neighborhood scale for non-potable needs, including toilet flushing and cooling.

SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as

amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).