D.c. Water and Sewer Authority
EPA ID: DC0000002 · 632,323 people served · 286 ZIP codes
The EPA enforcement database lists 6 active violations for D.c. Water and Sewer Authority — a provider that delivers drinking water to approximately 632,323 people and has not yet formally resolved those findings.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 274 (2022) to 822 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for D.c. Water and Sewer Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The D.c. Water and Sewer Authority serves a community with a median household income of $111,110 and an estimated 672,079 residents across its service area. Approximately 70% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 35% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
D.c. Water and Sewer Authority's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in District of Columbia, District of Columbia rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How D.c. Water and Sewer Authority compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead at 2 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 9 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
E. coli at 7 Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action) exceeds the EPA maximum of Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action). Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children. Consider UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 542 detections recorded.
Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
D.c. Water and Sewer Authority (EPA ID: DC0000002) is a community water system in District of Columbia that serves approximately 632,323 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 286 ZIP codes across 4 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (68/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 18, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2025 | E. coli | Health-based | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Unresolved |
| February 11, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 23, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 19, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 31, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 15, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2024 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2023 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Copper | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 9 | Yes |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 7 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 4 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 4 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 2 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Copper | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
E. coli (EPA limit: Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action))
Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children At-risk groups: children under 5, elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women.
Removal methods: UV disinfection (99.99%), chlorination, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L)
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, infants, long-term consumers of chlorinated municipal water.
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20001 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20002 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20003 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20004 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20005 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20006 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20007 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20008 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20009 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20010 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20011 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20012 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20013 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20015 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20016 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20017 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20018 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20019 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20020 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20022 | 0.001 mg/L | No | N/A |
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 36 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 250 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 286 ZIP codes:
20001 · 20002 · 20003 · 20004 · 20005 20006 · 20007 · 20008 · 20009 · 20010 20011 · 20012 · 20013 · 20015 · 20016 20017 · 20018 · 20019 · 20020 · 20022 20023 · 20024 · 20026 · 20027 · 20029 20030 · 20032 · 20033 · 20035 · 20036 20037 · 20038 · 20039 · 20040 · 20041 20042 · 20043 · 20044 · 20045 · 20046 20047 · 20049 · 20050 · 20051 · 20052 20053 · 20055 · 20056 · 20057 · 20058 20059 · 20060 · 20061 · 20062 · 20063 20064 · 20065 · 20066 · 20067 · 20068 20069 · 20070 · 20071 · 20073 · 20074 20075 · 20076 · 20077 · 20078 · 20080 20081 · 20082 · 20088 · 20090 · 20091 20097 · 20098 · 20201 · 20202 · 20203 20204 · 20206 · 20207 · 20208 · 20210 20211 · 20212 · 20213 · 20214 · 20215 20216 · 20217 · 20218 · 20219 · 20220 20221 · 20222 · 20223 · 20224 · 20226 20227 · 20228 · 20229 · 20230 · 20232 20233 · 20235 · 20237 · 20238 · 20239 20240 · 20241 · 20242 · 20244 · 20245 20250 · 20251 · 20252 · 20254 · 20260 20261 · 20262 · 20265 · 20266 · 20268 20270 · 20277 · 20289 · 20299 · 20301 20303 · 20306 · 20307 · 20310 · 20314 20317 · 20318 · 20319 · 20330 · 20340 20350 · 20355 · 20370 · 20372 · 20373 20374 · 20375 · 20376 · 20380 · 20388 20389 · 20390 · 20391 · 20392 · 20393 20394 · 20395 · 20398 · 20401 · 20402 20403 · 20404 · 20405 · 20406 · 20407 20408 · 20409 · 20410 · 20411 · 20412 20413 · 20414 · 20415 · 20416 · 20417 20418 · 20419 · 20420 · 20421 · 20422 20423 · 20424 · 20425 · 20426 · 20427 20428 · 20429 · 20431 · 20433 · 20434 20435 · 20436 · 20437 · 20439 · 20440 20441 · 20442 · 20444 · 20447 · 20451 20453 · 20456 · 20460 · 20463 · 20468 20469 · 20470 · 20472 · 20500 · 20501 20502 · 20503 · 20504 · 20505 · 20506 20507 · 20508 · 20509 · 20510 · 20511 20515 · 20520 · 20521 · 20522 · 20523 20524 · 20525 · 20526 · 20527 · 20528 20529 · 20530 · 20531 · 20532 · 20533 20534 · 20535 · 20536 · 20537 · 20538 20539 · 20540 · 20541 · 20542 · 20543 20544 · 20546 · 20547 · 20548 · 20549 20551 · 20552 · 20553 · 20554 · 20555 20557 · 20558 · 20559 · 20560 · 20565 20566 · 20570 · 20571 · 20572 · 20573 20575 · 20576 · 20577 · 20578 · 20579 20580 · 20581 · 20585 · 20586 · 20590 20591 · 20593 · 20594 · 20597 · 20599 56901 · 56915 · 56920 · 56933 · 56944 56972
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for D.c. Water and Sewer Authority (DC0000002) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is D.c. Water and Sewer Authority water safe to drink?
D.c. Water and Sewer Authority has recorded 6 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does D.c. Water and Sewer Authority serve?
D.c. Water and Sewer Authority serves approximately 632,323 people across 286 ZIP codes in District of Columbia.
Where does D.c. Water and Sewer Authority get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
D.c. Water and Sewer Authority (EPA ID: DC0000002) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.