District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority Now Known as DC Water

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority has launched a comprehensive rebranding campaign for the first time in its 14-year history. Known since its inception as DC WASA, the agency announced today that it would now do business as DC Water. A new logo featuring a water drop and tagline, “Water is Life,” round out the campaign.

“It’s time to re-introduce ourselves to our customers,” said DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins. “We’re rolling out new and exciting initiatives to provide excellent drinking water, and to protect the environment and human health. A new look and a new name physically reflect the changes that we are making—and signal a new era.”

Hawkins, DC Water Board Chairman William M. Walker and District of Columbia Mayor Adrian M. Fenty unveiled the new logo at the entrance to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant, the largest facility of its kind in the world.

“Water is life captures the importance of DC Water’s role in our community,” said Chairman Walker. “This new brand marks the beginning of a new era at DC Water and the Authority’s important work related to all things water for the millions of people we serve every day.”
“I have said for years that we should take pride in the water agency serving the nation’s capital, and its product,” said Mayor Fenty. “DC Water captures both perfectly.”

The new DC Water brand, logo and slogan resulted from a month-long public competition in February. Co-sponsored by WVSA ARTs connection, a District non-profit providing experiences for adults and children through arts-infused programs, the contest drew 177 entries from all across the United States.

“DC Water has done an excellent job pulling together the considerable public input from our competition,” said Rick Offner, WVSA ARTs connection President and CEO. “The end product is simple, recognizable and memorable.”

Hawkins presented commemorative checks for $667, one third of the prize money, to the three contest finalists whose contributions made up a significant part of the final brand and logo. The finalists were John Bauer, Ernest Lee and Adam Ross.

DC Water began the rebranding process by changing its website and signage, and has begun adding the new logo to vehicles and staff uniforms.

DC Water is currently involved developing a long-term plan to control combined sewer overflows, which includes constructing a series of tunnels to capture excess flow and convey it to the Blue Plains wastewater treatment plant. The major tunnel projects are: the Blue Plains Tunnel (23,600 ft of 23-ft diameter tunnel), the Anacostia River Tunnel (12,500 ft of 23-ft diameter tunnel), the NE Boundary Tunnel (17,500 ft of 23-ft diameter tunnel) and the NE Boundary Branch Tunnels (11,300 ft of 15-ft diameter tunnel).