The proposed resolution, known as the CRIAC Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025, aims to address the need for amendments to the District of Columbia Public Works Act of 1954 and the Water and Sewer Authority Establishment and Department of Public Works Reorganization Act of 1996. Specifically, it seeks to clarify that property owners and occupants in the District are required to pay an impervious area charge (CRIAC) assessed by DC Water, regardless of their connection to the sewer system. This charge is essential for funding upgrades to the District's combined sewer system, which is necessary to prevent overflows during heavy rains and to maintain water quality, as mandated by a federal consent order.

The resolution arises from ongoing legal challenges regarding DC Water's authority to levy the CRIAC on property owners not connected to the sewer system. The Council intends to ensure that all property owners, including those with impervious surfaces like parking lots, contribute to the costs associated with stormwater runoff and sewer system maintenance. Previous emergency and temporary legislation aimed at clarifying this issue has expired, making the adoption of this emergency resolution necessary to maintain clarity and continuity in the assessment of the CRIAC. The resolution is set to take effect immediately upon adoption.