The DC Water and Sewage Authority has pledged providing financial relief for some residents of up to $5,000 to cover the damages resulting from the recent sewage overflow in the Riggs Park and Edgewood neighborhoods.
The agency announced that it is going to offer $1.5 million that will be used to cover clean-up and dewatering efforts in impacted homes during a virtual town hall on Wednesday.
Residents will be receiving up to $5,000 per household.
DC Water General Manager David Gadis said that there will be an additional aid of up to $6,000 per household for those who qualify for a backwater valve that prevents sewage backups.
The flooding stemmed from extremely heavy rainfall in the area last week. Due to September 10’s stormwater, DC’s sewer infrastructure reached its maximum pumping limit and the new Anacostia Tunnel System filled to capacity (100 million gallons) in less than half an hour.
The existing sewers failed to handle the amount of stormwater generated by the storm.
“Even the First Street Tunnel, which was built to mitigate historic flooding issues in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park and can hold up to 8 million gallons of stormwater, filled to the top and overflowed,” according to DC Water.
Gadis and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser visited a number of the hardest hit neighborhoods and met with residents on September 12 to listen to their complaints.
Those who need service can schedule it by contacting one of these companies as of September 17:
Service Master at 703-212-7000 (24/7) or ServePro at 703-448-8444 (24/7).
DC Water will pay the company directly for the provided service.
You can also call the Emergency Clean Up Program hotline at 202-463-7283 for your questions Monday through Friday.