All existing water connections, which are no longer required due to demolition of a building, or the installation of a new water connection due to renovation of a building or the construction of a new building, shall be properly abandoned by the applicant's plumber to avoid leakage of water at the applicant�s expense.

No approval or signing off of a permit for a new water supply or for razing a building shall be made until all outstanding charges for water consumed at the premises have been paid, and the applicant has made satisfactory arrangement with DCWASA for abandonment of all taps or connections formerly supplying all or any part of the property.

Section 104, Water and Sanitation, Title 21, District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR) contains the applicable regulations for abandonment of water connections. Small water connections are defined as connections 2-inch and smaller diameter and consist of a corporation stop tapped into the public water main. The abandonment consists of removing the corporation stop and installing a plug in the tap. The remaining service connection pipe is abandoned in place. Large water connections are defined as connections 3-inch and larger diameter, which consists of a tee in the public water main with a valve on the branch of the tee.

The abandonment procedure depends upon the size and type of joints. The abandonment consists of removing the valve and installing a plug on the branch of the tee. The remaining service connection pipe is abandoned in place. If the existing water main is 12-inch and smaller diameter and the tee has lead joints, the entire tee is removed from the public water main and replaced with a straight run of pipe. If the existing water main is 16-inch and larger, the tee is plugged or the branch pipe is cut, capped and blocked.

All work for the abandonment of water connections is accomplished by the applicant�s contractor and inspected by the Department of Water Services (DWS). A fixed fee is charged for the abandonment of small water services (tap removal), by DCWASA who only removes the corporation stop in the excavation dug by the owner�s contractor. If a small water service is to be abandoned and another small water connection is to be installed in the same location, a fee is charged for both, abandonment and installation of one connection. If a large water connection is to be installed at the same location where a water connection is to be abandoned, only the cost for the installation of the large water connection is charged.

1. There is no separate application for the abandonment of water connections as such. The abandonment of water connections is made under a Public Space Permit. DCWASA signs off on the public space permit for this work. When permit application comes to the Documents and Permits Section (DPS), it is reviewed for possible abandonment of connections. The DPS checks the size of the water connection to be abandoned because of the proposed work. Small water connection abandonments are handled be the DCWASA representative at 941 North Capitol Street NE permit office. The owner�s certified plumber accomplishes all abandonments under the inspection of DCWASA. When a permit request is made for a new water connection, the abandonment funds are requested. After collecting the fee for the abandonment of the water connection, the DPS signs off on the permit application for the new water connection.
2. DCWASA establishes a job number and schedules the work.
3. When the work is completed, DWS signs off on the original work order indicating the project is completed.