House Passes Norton Provisions Authorizing Studies on Secondary Drinking Water Source for D.C., Swimming in Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, and Flooding in Federal Triangle

Statement

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) celebrated House passage of 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 were included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022.

"I have long said that Congress must act to protect the drinking water and other infrastructure of the nation's capital from serious vulnerabilities, and now the House has done our part," Norton said. "My three provisions will help ensure drinking water is available for the almost 700,000 residents of the nation's capital, potentially facilitate swimming in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, and reduce or eliminate flooding in the Federal Triangle area."

D.C. is wholly dependent on the Potomac River for its drinking water, but 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 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 the District. Studying the feasibility of swimming in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers is the next logical step to maximize the benefits of the area'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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