NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2007

WASA PROVIDES PUBLIC ACCESS TO ONLINE HYDRANT INFORMATION
-- Check status or report problems through web-based map --

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) today launched a unique tool, based on Google Earth®, to provide the general public with easy access to important data about the condition of fire hydrants in the District.

The new Google Earth® tool is accessible to the public by visiting WASA’s website, www.dcwasa.com. By using this tool, people will be able to easily locate fire hydrants and obtain basic status information. The information for each hydrant includes its identification number, current operational status and last inspection date. Additionally, customers can report a problem regarding a specific hydrant with the new web tool.

Individuals without DSL or cable modem (broadband) can use computers at a public library. The District of Columbia Public Library offers public access to the Internet at various library branches and can be contacted at (202) 727-0321 for more information. Customers may also contact WASA at (202) 612-3400 to determine the status of a particular hydrant or to report a hydrant that may be leaking or damaged. In the future, WASA will be launching additional tools for customers without broadband capabilities.

A more extensive version of Google Earth® is available to D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) personnel to assist in decision making and emergency preparedness. With Google Earth®, the fire department can quickly identify and locate hydrants that are currently out of service by Battalion and Engine Company, and determine which hydrants to use. This application allows Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel to see the identification number, description, address, operational status, compliance to National Fire Protection Association standards, last inspection date, and flow rating. This tool will eventually link the hydrant status information stored in WASA’s Asset Management System to the GIS mapping system.

WASA is responsible for the maintenance of more than 9,000 public hydrants. The Authority is spending $25 million on a hydrant program to replace 3500 hydrants over the next five years.

For more information, visit www.dcwasa.com.

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) is a multi-jurisdictional regional utility that provides drinking water, wastewater collection and treatment to more than 500,000 residential commercial and governmental customers in the District of Columbia and also collects and treats wastewater for 1.6 million customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland, and Fairfax and Loudon counties in Virginia.