Council committee holds roundtable on three DC Water alternate board nominations, focuses on lead pipes, affordability and secondary source

Charles Allen, Ward 6 council member and chair of the D.C. Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment, convened a public roundtable May 8 to consider three mayoral nominations to the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) board of directors: Robert Hawkins (PR26-171), Dr. Jimmy Ortiz (PR26-173) and Dr. Alexander McPhail (PR26-174). The committee heard testimony from Dr. McPhail and Mr. Hawkins; Dr. Ortiz had a scheduling conflict but met earlier with the chair and his written remarks are part of the record. The committee did not take a confirmation vote at the session; the hearing record remains open through May 22, 2025.

The hearing combined standard nominee introductions with extended questioning about DC Water priorities: replacing lead service lines, increasing enrollment in affordability programs, reducing multifamily arrearages and planning for a secondary water source. Chair Allen said the committee would accept written testimony through the council’s hearings portal through the close of business on May 22, 2025.

Dr. Alexander McPhail, who served on the DC Water board from 1989 to 2006 and holds a Ph.D. in environmental engineering, described a career focused on water and wastewater projects worldwide and emphasized household affordability and customer outreach. “Water and wastewater, they’re the cornerstones of a healthy life. You can’t really live well without access to those services,” McPhail said, adding he wants to advance low‑income customer assistance and use his prior board experience to help with procurement oversight and community engagement.

Robert Hawkins, a senior advisor with BerlinRosen who previously led government relations work at Nelson Mullins, said he was motivated by equity and public trust concerns. “Clean and affordable water is a fundamental human right. It’s a civil right,” Hawkins said, and told the committee he would prioritize governance, rate transparency and neighborhood outreach to boost enrollment in assistance programs.

Committee members questioned nominees about the role of an alternate board member (the D.C. Code allows alternates to attend meetings and act only in the absence of the principal member), committee assignments, conflicts of interest and preparations for major upcoming decisions, including the 2026 contract renewal for DC Water’s general manager. McPhail and Hawkins said they had completed or would complete conflict reviews with counsel and would disclose and recuse as required.

Much of the discussion focused on the lead service line replacement program. McPhail described previous community outreach problems in his Crestwood neighborhood, noted that limited participation in a small‑diameter replacement program had eroded trust, and recommended clearer public information about costs and program options. He cited the utility’s current budget for lead service line replacement — $1,510,000,000 as presented in committee discussion — and said the program’s unit cost appears higher than comparable cities because of curb‑to‑curb requirements. McPhail told the committee “we need to get it done cheaper,” and urged exploring ways to reduce per‑line costs.

Committee members and nominees also discussed affordability and arrearages. Panelists noted that DC Water serves roughly 725 square miles and more than 700,000 District residents and that the utility treats nearly 320,000,000 gallons of wastewater per day. Committee testimony cited that about 4% of revenues were more than 90 days overdue, roughly half of which is attributable to multifamily buildings; DC Water staff figures mentioned in the hearing put the total arrearage over 90 days at about $35.7 million as of the prior month. Nominees recommended simplifying program enrollment (consolidating multiple assistance programs where possible), increasing in‑neighborhood outreach and considering submetering in new multifamily construction to improve customer accountability and conservation.

The lack of a regional secondary source for potable water drew extended comment. McPhail and Hawkins both described the District’s dependence on the Washington Aqueduct and the vulnerability that creates; McPhail said treated wastewater reuse may be the feasible solution long term but noted the technical and regulatory complexity and high cost of such projects. Chair Allen said the council needs to move from study to selection of options and urged federal engagement, noting the national security implications of ensuring reliable water for the capital region.

The committee did not vote on the nominations at the roundtable. Chair Allen noted two nominees — McPhail and Hawkins — were present and Dr. Jimmy Ortiz had met with the chair earlier; the committee will include the testimony in its report. The committee record will remain open for written submissions through May 22, 2025.