Water Resources

The Chesapeake Bay, Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, and local waterways are critical to metropolitan Washington’s environment and economy as well as the health and safety of the region’s residents. COG’s Water Resources Program assists local government members, and affiliated wastewater treatment and drinking water utilities, with protecting, restoring, and conserving these resources. The program also helps them address the policy and technical implications of various state and federal initiatives that have water quality and water resource impacts for the region.

COG’s Regional Water Quality Management Program (RWQM) addresses a wide range of technical and policy issues that affect the tidal estuary portion of the Upper Potomac River and its tributaries. COG supports the Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee (CBPC) and the Water Resources Technical Committee (WRTC), by providing up-to-date information, analysis, and forums to address key topics such as:

• Potomac, Chesapeake Bay and Local Water Resources;
• Wastewater and Biosolids Management;
• Stormwater Management;
• Outreach and Education; and
• Various multi-sector activities that have implications for water quality and water resources - such as water infrastructure, source water protection, air pollution and land use, water-energy connections, toxics, and climate change.

COG’s Drinking Water and Drought Monitoring Program supports issues of importance to local drinking water and wastewater utilities including water supply and drought response, water security monitoring, and an effort to create a backup water source for the region. COG’s Urban Watershed Program supports regional stormwater management as well as the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership. COG also partners with its member governments on initiatives like a blue-green infrastructure project to address flood concerns across jurisdictional boundaries.

In addition, COG provides technical and policy support and coordination among the Parties to the 2012 Blue Plains Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) through the Blue Plains Regional Committee. Blue Plains is the largest wastewater treatment plant in the region.