DC Water extends contract for CEO Gadis

The Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) has approved a two-year contract extension for Chief Executive Officer and General Manager David L. Gadis.

The extension was approved during a recent special meeting of the Board on Oct. 29 and extends Gadis’ tenure through Sept. 30, 2028. The authority said Gadis’ extension helps ensure stability in leadership as it continues work on major infrastructure upgrades, equity, sustainability initiatives and customer-focused improvements it said are critical to the district’s future.

Since being appointed in 2018, Gadis has led DC Water through a period of significant progress and transformation. His leadership has helped strengthen financial stability, advance customer affordability programs, expand community partnerships, and accelerate work on some of the region’s most consequential environmental and infrastructure initiatives — including the nationally recognized Lead Free DC program and the Clean Rivers Project.

“Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and it has been the honor of my career to serve the residents of the District of Columbia,” said David L. Gadis, CEO and General Manager of DC Water. “I am deeply grateful to the Board for their confidence, our employees for their dedication and expertise, and the communities we serve for their trust and partnership. Together, we will ensure DC Water remains resilient, equitable, financially strong, and ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.”

According to DC Water, under Gadis’ leadership, the district has:

• Advanced workforce development, leadership growth, pay equity, and training, including expanded apprenticeship opportunities.
• Maintained some of the strongest credit ratings in the public utility sector, helping keep borrowing costs low and customer rates affordable.
• Delivered major milestones in the Clean Rivers Project, including early completion of the Anacostia River Tunnel and continued progress on the Potomac River Tunnel — the largest infrastructure project in District history, which will reduce sewer overflows and dramatically improve water quality.
• Accelerated Lead Free DC replacements of thousands of lead service lines with approximately 70% replaced at no-cost or discounted cost to homeowners and renters — improving public health and equity.
• Released the nation’s first ESG+R (Environmental, Social, Governance + Resilience) report by a municipal utility, positioning DC Water as a global leader for sustainable and resilient utility management.
• Expanded affordability and emergency relief programs to strengthen customer service and support District families facing financial hardship.

Upcoming projects and initiatives for DC Water include:

• Completion of the Potomac River Tunnel, the final major segment of the Clean Rivers Project.
• Continued acceleration of Lead Free DC to replace all lead service lines by 2037.
• Advancement of water reuse strategy and development of a second source of supply to enhance regional water security.
• Strengthening cybersecurity, hazard resilience, and system-wide emergency preparedness.
• Continuing to expand customer affordability and community partnership programs.

DC Water provides drinking water, wastewater collection and treatment to more than 700,000 residents, 24 million annual visitors, and hundreds of thousands of workers across the District of Columbia, as well as wastewater treatment services for communities across the metropolitan region.