01
Executive overview
Key findings
About 140 million gallons a day: withdrawn by the Washington Aqueduct from the Potomac River, the District's single drinking water source (2025 Drinking Water Quality Report)
About 1.8 million: suburban wastewater users served wholesale, alongside about 700,000 District residents served at retail (FY 2027 Approved Budget)
67.17%: share of treated water pumped that was billed in FY 2025 (36,758 million gallons pumped; 24,691 billed)
US$9.69 billion: ten-year capital disbursements planned for FY 2026–FY 2035
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Buyer relevance
Who the report is for
Regional planners and neighboring jurisdictions
See how Blue Plains, the regional interceptors and the Board's joint-use rules divide responsibility between the District and four suburban counties.
Engineering and construction firms
Use the FY 2027 capital table to see which areas are growing, from Sanitary Sewer at US$230.7 million to Wastewater Treatment at US$127.5 million.
Credit analysts and investors
Set FY 2025 operating revenues of US$1,004.3 million and coverage of 2.40x against debt projected to reach US$6.9 billion by FY 2035.
Water resilience and policy specialists
Assess the District's single-source exposure and the study-stage Pure Water DC response.
03
Decision scope
Questions answered
Where does the District's drinking water come from?
From the Potomac River through the Washington Aqueduct, which withdraws about 140 million gallons a day at Great Falls and Little Falls; DC Water distributes it.
How much of the water DC Water pumps is billed?
67.17% in FY 2025: 24,691 of 36,758 million gallons, against 72.40% in FY 2016.
Who sets DC Water's rates?
Its Board: rate setting is a non-joint-use matter decided by District members only, and the Board approved FY 2027 and FY 2028 rates on September 3, 2026.
Where is capital spending growing fastest?
Among the larger FY 2027 budget lines, Wastewater Treatment (+53.3%) and Sanitary Sewer (+48.5%) rise fastest against the FY 2026 revised budget.
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Inside the report
Inside the complete report
Executive Overview
1. Water Resource Profile
2. Governance and Institutional Framework
3. Infrastructure and Service Delivery
Strategic Outlook and Opportunities
Source Register
05
Public preview
What to watch next
Strategic Outlook and Opportunities
The FY 2028 proposed budget and any revision of the US$9.69 billion plan; Potomac River Tunnel progress after TBM Emily starts; a reconfirmed Lead Free DC completion date; the Army Corps feasibility findings; any ruling or settlement in the Potomac Interceptor cases.
3. Infrastructure and Service Delivery
The 2026 Drinking Water Quality Report results for calendar 2025; Potomac River Tunnel progress; FY 2026 results and coverage in the next ACFR.
2. Governance and Institutional Framework
Any settlement or judgment in the Potomac Interceptor cases; MDE's response to a revised plan; a successor strategic plan; Board votes on the FY 2028 budget.
1. Water Resource Profile
The Army Corps of Engineers feasibility findings; the Discovery Center opening in fall 2027; the next ACFR pumped-and-billed figures; FY 2028 water purchase and Aqueduct budget lines.
FY 2027 capital budget by area against the FY 2026 revised budget, and DC Water's dated commitments, from the Strategic Outlook.
06
Included
What you receive
The complete PDF report: 12 pages, 6 sections, 11 tables and a register of 28 sources.
This edition
November 2026, First edition.
07
Evidence & method
Evidence and method
DC Water's FY 2025 ACFR statistical section, 2025 Drinking Water Quality Report and FY 2027 Approved Budget; Board, Blue Plains, Clean Rivers and Pure Water DC pages; and federal and state documents including the EPA consent decree, the DC Public Service Commission and the April 2026 lawsuits.
Sources
28 sources, listed in the report's source register. Evidence current to 12 November 2026. Principal data periods: FY 2025 results (fiscal year ended September 30, 2025); FY 2027 Approved Budget (adopted March 5, 2026); FY 2027 and FY 2028 rates (approved September 3, 2026); calendar 2024 water quality data; project status checked to November 12, 2026. All currency is US dollars..
Evidence boundaries
This report uses authoritative source material available at the stated research cutoff. It distinguishes published facts, calculated values and analytical interpretation. No independent modelling is performed. Forward-looking analysis reflects published plans, documented trends and stated uncertainties. It does not constitute legal, financial, investment or engineering advice.
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Lead analyst
Robert C. Brears
Founder, Our Future Water Intelligence
Robert C. Brears is a water-security specialist and author whose work examines utility governance, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and long-term water-system change for executive and policy audiences.
- Decision-focused utility intelligence
- Published water-policy author
- Evidence-grounded system analysis
09
Buyer FAQs
Before you purchase
Who can use the report?
Licensed for internal use within one purchasing organization. The PDF and its contents may be shared with colleagues within that organization. External redistribution, resale and public publication are prohibited without permission.
How is the report delivered?
The PDF is available to download immediately after confirmed payment, through our secure delivery system.
Can my organization buy wider access?
Institutional purchasing: For invoice enquiries, multi-organization licensing or broader access requirements, contact Our Future Water Intelligence.
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Water Systems Overview: DC Water
- Format
- Length
- 12 pages
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Price
- USD 499
11
Report details
Publication details
- Publisher
- Our Future Water Intelligence
- Report family
- Water Utility Intelligence Report
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Format
- Length
- 12 pages
- Reference
- OFW_EXT_WATER_SYSTEMS_OVERVIEW_DC_WATER_d4386bd14ca5
- Evidence current to
- 12 November 2026
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