District of Columbia
District of Columbia sits in the Northeast and draws its water primarily from Potomac River. With roughly 0.67 million residents, the state has a developing water reuse program, reusing an estimated 5% of its treated wastewater.
District of Columbiawater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in District of Columbia
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 3 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 2 |
| TTHM | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | 1 |
| Groundwater Rule | 1 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | 1 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
A single Potomac-fed system with major combined-sewer and stormwater tunnel investments underway.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, District of Columbia currently tracks around moderate to severe conditions. District of Columbia has 12 community water systems serving about 1 million people; EPA records show 7 of them (58.3%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of District of Columbia in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 0 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 0.0 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 0%
- Irrigation share
- 100%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~5%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Potomac River
Common questions
Is tap water safe in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has 12 community water systems serving about 1 million people. EPA records show 7 of them (58.3%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 1 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in District of Columbia's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS, Revised Total Coliform Rule, TTHM.
How much water does District of Columbia use per person?
Public water systems in District of Columbia withdraw about 0 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 0% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in District of Columbia?
As of 2026-06-09, 100% of District of Columbia is in drought (D1+) and 92.1% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in District of Columbia
5 trackedWashington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., DC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Shaw
Shaw, DC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Adams Morgan
Adams Morgan, DC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase, DC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Bloomingdale
Bloomingdale, DC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in District of Columbia
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExploreStormwater Capture
Cities are reengineering streets and parks to capture rain that once ran to the sea, recharging aquifers and reducing flooding at the same time.
Explore