Norton Announces Her Provisions Authorizing Studies on Secondary Drinking Water Source for D.C., Swimming in the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, and Flooding in Federal Triangle Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that President Biden today signed into law her provisions authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct studies on a secondary drinking water source and additional drinking water storage capability for the District of Columbia, swimming in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers in D.C., and flooding in the Federal Triangle area of D.C. The provisions are included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA).

“I am pleased the president signed into law my three provisions in WRDA that address issues D.C. has long confronted,” Norton said. “These provisions will serve to protect the drinking water and other infrastructure of the nation’s capital from serious vulnerabilities and will benefit D.C. residents for years to come.”

The Potomac River is D.C.’s only source of drinking water, and natural or man-made events could render the river unusable for drinking water. The federally owned and operated Washington Aqueduct produces drinking water from the river for D.C. and parts of Northern Virginia. However, the aqueduct maintains only a single day of backup water supply. Many other highly populated metropolitan areas like New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have a second source of drinking water, and many are in the planning stages for a third source.

Congress passed Norton’s bills to redevelop the Southwest and Southeast waterfronts, which have reinvigorated community engagement on the water and have generated considerable tax revenue for D.C. Studying the feasibility of swimming in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers is the next logical step to maximize the benefits of D.C.’s beautiful waterways.

With heavy rain projected to become more frequent due to climate change, the Federal Triangle area is increasingly susceptible to flooding. In June 2006, an intense storm produced flooding in the area, which caused power outages and major disruptions to federal and D.C. operations, forcing closures of local businesses, public transportation hubs and federal buildings. Smaller but still significant storms in the area in 2018, 2019, and 2020 resulted in closures of Constitution Avenue, power and transportation disruptions, and flooding of buildings.

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