You’re invited: July 28th DC Water meeting on Soapstone Valley sewer project

It’s been two years since DC Water told our community about the need to rehabilitate or replace the aging sewer pipes running through Soapstone Valley. We’re due for an update, and we’re getting one next week.

DC Water will host a community meeting on the next steps of its planning process on Tuesday, July 28th, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Forest Hills of DC (4901 Connecticut Avenue). Can’t attend? ANC 3F expects to broadcast the meeting online via Livestream, where it will also be archived.

Also on the agenda: an update on DC Water’s work to repair the sewer leak in Soapstone.

Problem sewer pipes in Soapstone, in 2010. (images from DC Water’s June 2013 presentation)

The agency’s 2013 presentation outlined four options:

(1) Full removal of the existing pipes – which would result in a lot of tree loss;
(2) Construction of a new pump station nearby – which would create noise and odor, and carry aesthetic concerns and a heavy carbon footprint;
(3) Trenchless lining of existing pipes – which is less intrusive on trees and surrounding homes and landscape; and
(4) Abandoning storm piping completely, and creating trenchless, new construction

According to a statement DC Water sent Forest Hills Connection about the upcoming meeting, it has narrowed the options down to two: creating a new system with pumping stations or relining the existing pipes. DC Water will be discussing the pros and cons of each plan in more detail at the community meeting next Tuesday.

Once DC Water settles on a plan, it must submit an environmental assessment to the National Park Service. That’s in the pipeline for next summer. Work is expected to begin in 2017, but DC Water spokesman John Lisle has told us the agency wishes to accelerate the timetable after this month’s sewer leak.