Cleaning Up the Anacostia

We at the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) were pleased to see the Jan. 9 article on pollution in the Anacostia River because such reporting focuses public attention on the problem.

The article identified a number of sources of pollution in this Potomac River tributary. It also noted the work and investment by WASA to address this problem.

More than 80 percent of the Anacostia watershed lies outside the District. A significant amount of pollutants, trash and debris enters the river upstream from the District through storm runoff and settles in the slow-moving part of the river in the city. To have an impact on water quality here, attention should be directed toward a cohesive, regional approach that would mitigate the most prevalent causes of the pollution.

All the jurisdictions in the watershed are working on the problem. The District is doing its part with a $2.2 billion investment in projects to reduce combined sewer overflows into area waterways. To date, 30 percent of the District's combined sewer overflows into the Anacostia have been eliminated. WASA also uses skimmer boats to remove floating trash and other debris from the river. These boats pick up debris from 60 miles of shoreline, removing as much as 120 tons of trash a month.

These investments and activities alone are not enough. The most effective strategy would be to implement, with assistance from the federal government, a watershed-based approach under which the worst problems would be addressed first. We encourage developers, residents and environmental groups to advocate for and participate in a regional strategy to improve water quality in this magnificent river.

JERRY N. JOHNSON

General Manager

D.C. Water and Sewer Authority

Washington