DISTRICT BRIEFING

-- Paul Schwartzman and Clarence Williams

ROCK CREEK

---

Tap Water Caused Fish Deaths

---

Tap water that was dumped from a pipe under repair caused the deaths of about 1,900 fish in Rock Creek this week, authorities said yesterday.

About midday Thursday, the fish were reported floating along a quarter-mile stretch of the creek near Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park. More than 20 species were affected, said Adrienne Coleman, the park's superintendent.

Authorities determined yesterday that the cause was tap water, which is toxic to fish because of the chemicals used to treat it.

D.C. Water and Sewer Authority workers were fixing a leaky pipe near 17th and Allison streets NW and needed to empty a water main, said WASA spokeswoman Michele Quander-Collins.

They dumped the water into a storm drain for about three hours, she said, not knowing that it led to a nearby section of the .

-- David A. Fahrenthold