Persistent Water Main Issues on 1400 Block of T Street

For well over a year the 1400 block of T Street has been the victim of persistent water shut offs because of emergency repairs required to the underground water main. It happened again earlier this month and according to residents, this is at least the fourth or fifth time that the water has been shut off without warning within a year. 

Residents and businesses on T Street are being hit hard. Here are tweets from a resident and Lupo Verde at 14th and T. 

.@dcwater why do we keep losing water on T Street! This is the third time this year! Pretty ridiculous!

— Tom Lewis (@tomlewis151) August 15, 2014

Due to a water main break, we are closed for the night.

— Lupo Verde (@LupoVerdeDC) October 8, 2014

I reached out to DC Water immediately and asked that the water main be replaced as soon as possible. The regular disruptions cost the city time and money to repair on an emergency basis. The water main feeds both residents and growing small businesses, and the regular repair work blocks a well traversed street and bike lane. 

As of now, the main is scheduled to be repaired in 2016 at the earliest, which simply isn't good enough. Emergency fixes clearly are not working. DC Water did note that "following selection of water mains [for replacement] there is an extensive design phase that can take up to three years before construction will begin." 

While I continue to push the timeline with the city, neighbors should feel free to express their concerns directly to DC Water. You can email Lisa Barton in the Office of the General Manager at lisa.barton@dcwater.com. Tell the city that three years is too long to wait. Thanks!