DC Mayor Muriel Bowser Visits Site as Crews Make Progress on Repairs

DC Water has successfully reached the damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor, marking a critical step in the ongoing damage assessment and repair efforts. Crews today are manually digging out the affected area, carefully removing sludge, soil, and debris from the collapsed pipe.

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Efforts to isolate the damaged section of pipe are moving forward. Engineers are on site and preparations are underway to permanently install a steel bulkhead gate that will cut off flow to the collapse site in combination with an enhanced bypass pumping system that will continue to divert wastewater around the failure and into the Potomac Interceptor further downstream. Once fully activated, the system will allow contractors to begin stabilizing the area around the break and initiate excavation down to the damaged pipe and rock dam.

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Potomac Interceptor Collapse UpdateTuesday, February 17, 2026

No overflow events impacting surface waters were reported overnight. No overflow events impacting surface waters have been reported since February 9, 2026. DC Water continues making significant progress toward stabilizing the Potomac Interceptor, with crews successfully testing the bulkhead system and bypass pumps. Six of the seven new high-capacity pumps are now operational, with the seventh expected to be online tomorrow. Crews are continuing to test and optimize the enhanced bypass system and expect it to be fully operational by ... Read More