DC Water CEO David Gadis Highlights Urgent Infrastructure Needs and Future Solutions
The Board of Trade hosted DC Water CEO and General Manager David L. Gadis on Feb. 26 for an insightful discussion with regional industry leaders. The conversation provided a comprehensive look at the challenges and opportunities facing the District’s water system.
With 80% of the infrastructure exceeding its expected lifespan, including pipes dating back to the Civil War, Gadis emphasized the urgent need to address system vulnerabilities. He warned that a major system failure could cost the region up to $150 million per day in losses, a number that would continue to grow with each additional day of service disruption. Additionally, he highlighted the District’s reliance on a single water source, making it the only major U.S. city without a secondary supply.
The discussion also explored the need for federal approvals and investments to secure additional water sources and storage facilities, such as the Travilah quarry. Securing these alternatives is essential to strengthening the region’s long-term water resilience, and DC Water is continuing to monitor any potential financial cutbacks at the federal level that could impact funding for its projects.
Gadis addressed questions about DC Water’s strategy for maintaining a sustainable and reliable water supply. He stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing key initiatives while ensuring water affordability. He also highlighted ongoing projects like the Lead Free DC Initiative -to replace lead service lines- and the Clean Rivers Project – a large-scale tunnel project designed to reduce pollution and enhance the system’s resilience.
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With global challenges like sea-level rise and aging infrastructure, Gadis underscored the need for proactive measures and sustainable practices. Through continued collaboration, innovation, and forward-thinking initiatives, DC Water remains committed to delivering high-quality, sustainable water service to the D.C. community for generations to come.
Gadis also spoke extensively about the importance of D.C.’s Anacostia and Potomac rivers and the ongoing need for effective monitoring systems. He emphasized collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers and localities in Virginia and Maryland to ensure continued improvements in water quality.
He highlighted the critical role of partnerships in maintaining the health of these waterways, particularly after storms, which require coordinated cleanup efforts along the Anacostia River. He also noted the need for ongoing monitoring of the Potomac River to detect and address potential threats, such as droughts or algae blooms, that could impact water filtration and supply.
In closing, Gadis spoke about his journey to becoming the head of DC Water as a third-generation water utility professional, including his previous stint as the President and CEO of the Indianapolis Water Company. It was an inspiring moment when he shared how his career path has allowed him to help people and serve communities, including helping provide water to more than 700,000 District residents and 25 million annual visitors as the leader of DC Water.
Thank you to DC Water and David L. Gadis for engaging our membership about water resiliency and the need to look at the region’s water systems as a vital economic source that must be invested in and maintained for the future of our communities.
LEARN MORE ABOUT REGIONAL WATER SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
Report: Alarming Economic Impacts on DC Region if Faced with Water Supply Disruption
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