• After three days of stable operations following completion of emergency repairs to restore flow to the Potomac Interceptor, the bypass pumping system is being demobilized. Crews have begun disassembling the bypass pipes and removing them from the upstream section of the interceptor, where pumps were used to divert wastewater around the collapse site and back into the interceptor further downstream.
• DC Water and its contractors continue to remove sludge and debris from the C & O Canal as part of the initial environmental rehabilitation and clean-up.
• The initial phase of environmental rehabilitation is nearing completion in the areas directly impacted by the overflow, including the drainage channel along Clara Barton Parkway, Rock Run culvert, the unnamed tributary to the Potomac River, and the immediate shoreline along the river.
• Some work remains in the eastern section of Area 1 within the drainage channel. The initial rehabilitation work includes clearing brush and debris, mucking, removing contaminated soil, and installing erosion control and soil stabilization measures for the initial phase of clean-up.
• The area will remain an active construction site for the next 9-10 months, as DC Water demobilizes from the emergency repair and transitions to the previously planned long-term rehabilitation.
• Site preparations will soon begin to bring in equipment and materials needed to rehabilitate more than 2700 linear feet of the interceptor, using a process called slip lining. A new pipe will be inserted into the existing interceptor to strengthen and reinforce it to like-new condition.
• DC Water is also preparing for two community meetings this week to provide updates and answer questions about the repairs and environmental rehabilitation:
  • Wednesday, March 18 at 6:30 PM | Walt Whitman High School (Cafeteria) | 7100 Whittier Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20817
  • Thursday, March 19 at 7:00 PM | Lee Center Auditorium | 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, VA 22314
  • Those interested in attending may RSVP at events@dcwater.com. Please include which meeting you plan to attend.

Water Quality Sampling Results

Fluctuations in water quality are influenced by factors such as rain, heat, or other weather events, river flow, runoff, pollutants, releases of combined overflows, and other sources discharging into waterways. This is reflected in the March 16 sampling results that coincided with a rain event. Given these variables and that overflows have been contained for more than a month prior to completing emergency repairs, measurements taken much further downstream are likely unrelated to this incident.

For the Potomac River, historical water quality data shows E. coli levels may vary from a range as low as 10 MPN/100mL to as much as 5,000 MPN/100mL on a given day. A more detailed explanation is posted on the District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) website at doee.dc.gov/release/potomac-interceptor-update-and-faqs.

Due to severe weather on Monday, we were unable to perform water quality sampling at two locations. Sampling resumed today and results will be available tomorrow.

Sample results from March 9 - present. Past results may be found here.

For the latest updates and information, including how to provide feedback on the environmental rehabilitation, go to our dedicated Potomac Interceptor Response page.