Navigating a Watermain Replacement Project through the Historic Capitol Hill Neighborhood

Capitol Hill is the seat of the US government, home to the United States Capitol, Senate, Houses of Representatives, and the neoclassical Supreme Court. Known for the Eastern Market, where vendors sell produce, meat, cheese, handicrafts, and antiques on weekends. The project consists of the installation of approximately 10,650 linear feet of small diameter water mains 3–12 in. and approximately 2,270 linear feet of large diameter water mains of 20–36 in. Project also includes the replacement of fire hydrants, valves, and service lines, including private side replacement of lead and galvanized pipe. Project will help improve water quality and system reliability and help maintain adequate flows throughout the system. Extensive coordination, open communication, cooperation, and collaboration were key to completing a successful project in this historic neighborhood. Coordination between various stakeholders such as the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC) 6A and 6C, Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Congress, Senate, Supreme Court, Supreme Court Police, and Capitol Police was critical to a successful project. They were at the mercy of the AOC schedule and the constraints of the DDOT Occupancy Permit, which limited work hours in the public right-of-way. Communication weekly with the contractor was critical to minimize misunderstandings that could delay construction, weekly meetings with AOC, and weekly newsletters and community outreach to ANC and surrounding communities. Collaboration between stakeholders focuses on a common goal. Due to ongoing challenges with the schedule of the Supreme Court, round-table discussions between DDOT, AOC, and the ANC commissioner led to an agreement to allow night and weekend work to decrease project duration, a shared goal. Cooperation had to be one accord with DC Water’s internal stakeholders, such as Design, Construction, Water Operations, Community Affairs, Safety, Meter Operations, and Legal Affairs. This was critical to the successful completion of this project. Painstaking effort in conjunction with Compliance, Program Services, Finance, and the contractor to meet an August 15, 2022, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan spending deadline is a testament to the team’s commitment. Organized coordination, diplomatic communication, concerted collaboration, and shared cooperation between stakeholders and other government agencies made navigating a water main replacement project through the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood a success.