Boil water advisory issued throughout Northwest DC after pump failure

WASHINGTON (7News) — The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority has issued a precautionary Boil Water Advisory for certain areas in Northwest D.C. following a loss of water pressure that affected 4,929 customers.

DC Water stresses that the advisory is a precautionary measure, and the quality of the water in the affected area is unknown.

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D.C. Water advises residents in the impacted neighborhoods, including Chevy Chase DC, Friendship Heights, Tenleytown, AU Park, Spring Valley, Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, Van Ness, Glover Park, Wesley Heights, and Cathedral Heights, to boil water before consumption. This includes water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and other household uses.

The advisory follows a power loss at a DC Water pump station on Thursday, which led to pump failures and a subsequent drop in system pressure. Although power and pressure have been restored, the advisory remains in place until follow-up testing confirms the water is safe to drink.

DC Water recommends discarding any beverages and ice made after 2:27 p.m. on June 12. Residents should run cold water until clear before boiling, and bring water to a rolling boil for one minute before cooling and storing it in a clean, covered container.

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The advisory will be lifted once tests on two consecutive days show no bacteria are present. DC Water anticipates this could be as early as late Friday, June 13.

Residents can check if they are in the impacted area by visiting the interactive map on DC Water’s website or calling the 24-Hour Command Center at (202) 612-3400.