Rock Creek Sewer Separation

The Rock Creek Sewer Separation project is one of the first projects included in the DC Water and Sewer Authority's (DC WASA) Long Term Control Plan (LTCP). The LTCP is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to lessen pollution from combined sewer overflows (CSOs). DC WASA is required to separate the single combined sewers into separate sanitary and storm sewers for the drainage basins serving four specific overflow locations.

Download a more detailed Fact sheet on Rock Creek Sewer Separation (PDF 1.9 mb) .

Read more detailed information about current work on:

CSO 031

Download a more detailed Fact sheet on Rock Creek Sewer Separation — CSO 031 (PDF 511 kb) .

The drainage basin serving this area consists of 1.2 acres of contributing area, including the private property at 2600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, portions of the Pennsylvania Avenue, NW roadway and Meigs Memorial Bridge. CSO occurs at the CSO 031 outfall, which is one of the four selected for separation in the Rock Creek area.

The work performed by DC WASA to reduce CSO would occur on National Park Service (NPS) property between Pennsylvania Avenue, NW and L Street, NW, adjacent to the building located at 2600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

DC WASA Work Scope Will Include

  • Separate the existing 12" combined sewers along Pennsylvania Ave, NW into sanitary and storm sewers.
  • Retain the existing CSO 031 outfall structure, but convert it to a storm outfall that only discharges stormwater to Rock Creek.

CSO 037

Download a more detailed Fact sheet on Rock Creek Sewer Separation — CSO 037 (PDF 2.3 mb) .

The drainage basin for CSO 037 consists of roughly 15.5 acres of single family residences and foreign embassies. The area is served by an existing combined sewer system, which collects surface runoff, roof drainage, as well as sanitary flow. CSO occurs at the outfall, which is one of the four selected for separation in the Rock Creek area.

The work performed by DC WASA to reduce the sewage overflow would occur on the following streets: Belmont Road, NW, Kalorama Road, NW, Tracy Place, NW, Wyoming Ave, NW, and Kalorama Circle, NW.

DC WASA Work Scope Will Include

  • Install approximately 3,500 feet of new storm sewer pipes to handle stormwater during wet weather events
  • Convert the existing combined sewer system into the planned sanitary sewer system
  • Rehabilitate over 850 feet of the existing sewer that is being converted to the sanitary sewer
  • Disconnect all sanitary sewer lines from the CSO 037 outfall and connect it to the proposed new storm sewer lines
  • Replace over 3,600 feet of water mains and valves in the neighborhood streets, as well as existing lead service lines, fire hydrants scheduled for repair or replacement.

CSO 053

Download a more detailed Fact sheet on Rock Creek Sewer Separation — CSO 053 (PDF 1.8 mb) .

The drainage basin for CSO 053 consists of 4.6 acres of developed urban area. The drainage basin encompasses Q Street, NW just west of Rock Creek. This area is served by an existing combined sewer system and a storm sewer system. During wet weather events, combined sewer overflows occur at the CSO 053 outfall in Rock Creek just under the Q Street Bridge.

The work performed by WASA to reduce the sewage overflow would occur on Q Street, NW and National Park Service (NPS) property adjacent to Q Street.

DC WASA Work Scope Will Include

  • Convert the existing combined sewer to a sanitary sewer by redirecting storm water flow to the existing storm sewer
  • Install approximately 900 feet of new sanitary sewers that would extend down the Rock Creek embankment
  • Convert the existing sewer outfall to a storm outfall that would discharge no sanitary waste
  • Upgrade the water distribution infrastructure by replacing over 1,100 feet of water mains and valves on Q Street, as well as existing lead service lines and fire hydrants scheduled for repair or replacement
  • Perform work on NPS property using "trenchless" methods where possible

CSO 058

Download a more detailed Fact sheet on Rock Creek Sewer Separation — CSO 0358 (PDF 1.2 mb) .

The drainage basin for CSO 058 consists of roughly 108 acres of residences, businesses and various institutions. While the majority of this drainage basin was separated in the 1960s, the portion south of Woodley Road, NW and east of 24th Street, NW is still a combined sewer area.

The work would occur on the following streets: Connecticut Ave, NW, Woodley Road, NW, Cathedral Ave, NW and portions of the National Park Service (NPS) property adjacent to the drainage basin.

DC WASA Work Scope Will Include

  • Install a separate storm sewer along Connecticut Avenue, NW between Woodley Road, NW and Calvert Street, NW and in National Park Service Property (NPS); requiring over 2,200 feet of new storm sewers to be installed
  • Convert the existing sewer outfall to a storm outfall that would discharge no sanitary waste
  • Replace approximately 1,100 feet of water mains and valves in the neighborhood streets, as well as existing lead service lines and fire hydrants scheduled for repair or replacement
  • Rehabilitate approximately 400 feet of the existing sewer that will be converted to the sanitary sewer
  • Perform work using "trenchless" methods wherever possible