DCWASA provides retail water and wastewater services to its residential and commercial customers in the District, with rates for these services set by the Authority's District of Columbia Board Members.  Wholesale wastewater treatment is provided to portions of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun Counties in Virginia, as well as to the town of Vienna, Virginia.  These suburban jurisdictions pay the full cost for their use of facilities and services based on a funding formula in the Blue Plains Intermunicipal Agreement.  DCWASA's Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant, located in southwest Washington, is the largest advanced wastewater treatment facility in the world.

The Authority buys its drinking water from the Washington Aqueduct, a division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The Aqueduct treats the water and DCWASA distributes it throughout the District.  See the water quality in the District.

On April 19, 2000, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region III issued a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit to the Government of the District of Columbia for management of the separate storm sewer system.  For the initial permit period, DCWASA has been designated the lead agency within the DC Government to coordinate activities of the Departments of Public Works and Health in achieving compliance with the permit.  This role has required City Council action related to DCWASA's chartering legislation and the issuance of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DCWASA and the District agencies designed to establish clearly defined lines of authority and communication.  DCWASA will lead the effort to develop a Storm Water Management Plan for the District as required by the MS4 Permit.

The MS4 permit requires that the District of Columbia develop a plan to bring stormwater management, including facilities, into compliance with federal law.  The plan is required to be submitted to the EPA for approval by April 19, 2002.  Additional information about DCWASA's stormwater services can be found in the Facilities page.