A boil water advisory in Northwest D.C. has been lifted and those in the affected areas can resume using tap water for all purposes, city officials said early Friday.
DC Water lifted the advisory issued Thursday after tests confirmed that drinking water meets all water quality safety standards. The agency tested water samples from multiple sites in the affected area and verified that there is no risk of water contamination from the loss of pressure in some portions of the distribution system.
The affected neighborhoods include Upper Chevy Chase, Fort Reno, American University, Spring Valley, Friendship Heights, Westover Place, Wakefield, North Cleveland Park, Palisades, Wesley Heights, Foxhall Crescent, Foxhall Village, Hawthorne, Barnaby Woods, and Chevy Chase. The impact affected 4,800 customers, according to the advisory issued Thursday.
DC Water official said the advisory was issued as a conservative measure to protect public health. The customers in the affected area were thanked for their patience as the agency sought to address the problem.
Agency officials urge customers to use precautions before returning to normal water usage such as running the cold water taps for 10 minutes (if water was not used at all during the advisory) and discarding food, beverages or ice prepared with water that was not boiled during the advisory.
DC Water will work with customers to answer questions and respond to additional issues following the Boil Water Advisory. Customers with water quality questions should contact the Drinking Water Division at 202-612-3440 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)