Delacarlia reservoir and filter buildings
Every day we count on turning the bathroom or kitchen faucet to find clean, clear water pouring out. Behind the production of that usable water is a complex infrastructure, a world little recognized and rarely seen by the public. With Bill Keene, a lecturer in history, urban studies, and architecture, as guide, go behind the scenes of water facilities in the Washington area.
Start the day with a private guided tour of the Arlington Water Pollution Control Plant. The South Arlington facility treats 30 million gallons of wastewater each day from residences and businesses, with nearly 20 percent of the flow coming from localities outside Arlington such as Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church. The plant processes wastewater and hazardous-waste materials to protect local waterways, especially Four Mile Run, the Potomac, and Chesapeake Bay. Plant staff offer a start-to-finish look at the process that transforms incoming materials into clean, treated water or solids for land applications.
After a 3-course lunch at the Bonefish Grill in Arlington, the group moves into the District with a private tour of the Washington Aqueduct in Northwest. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the historic aqueduct, and other facilities that provide wholesale water treatment and delivery services to D.C. Water and its partners in Northern Virginia, Arlington County, and Falls Church. Visit the Dalecarlia treatment plant on MacArthur Blvd. for an orientation on how water taken from the Potomac at Great Falls is purified and delivered to customers. Then visit the EPA-certified water quality laboratory and follow each stage of the production process. You’ll end a fascinating and informative day with a new appreciation and understanding of what goes on before you turn the tap.
The tour involves standing and walking for extended periods. Please wear closed-toed shoes.
