Your mileage may vary - Anonymous employee DC Water Employee Review

4.0
11 Aug 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Salaries and benefits are great compared to other government jobs in DC. Independent board. No political appointees. DC Water has a great reputation in the water/wastewater sector thanks to efficient, innovative operations and a highly-visible CEO. Customers generally appreciative even though rates are rising. Employees do good work to benefit the public. Generally a good place to work if you have a family.

Cons

Some senior managers have been around a long time and are experts in their fields, helping develop people's careers and improving the state of the industry. Other senior managers have simply been around a long time. Labor/management relations are tenuous. Most administration jobs are at Blue Plains, which can be malodorous and is hard to reach by public transit. This will change in the next 2 years when a new headquarters comes online near the baseball stadium.

Explore other reviews about DC Water

5.0
27 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Mission driven with experienced executive leadership

Cons

Challenging political environment due to election cycle

2.0
3 Oct 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

great pay work from home

Cons

I worked in the customer service department for 364 days. Exactly one day before I was to be permanent, I was fired without warning and without warrant. I have been in customer service over 20 years and this is the easiest job I have ever done, but management ,particularly the two lady supervisors, made it extremely difficult and and complicated for no reason . They talk down to you , and make it seem like you have no idea how to do your job, when actually they don't. They turn minor issues into mountains. This could be a great job if they purge management. It's time for fresh faces and ideas. This department has a very high turnover rate and is a black hole. They consistently fire and hire, that is the pattern. The only way to survive is if they like you. Without notice or warning they will fire you, and no one will support you. The manager of this department is a good guy, but seems to be controlled by the two supervisors that he actually out ranks. There is a union, but they appear to not be able to fight their way out of a paper bag. If you get hired here, be very cautious, be robotic. Be prepared to get continuous repeat calls from the same customers because the system is antiquated . Upper management will not take the suggestions made by the employees. They are all overpaid and out of touch.

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