The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) is accelerating repairs of a huge sanitary sewer line serving businesses and government buildings along Pennsylvania Avenue between First and 12th streets NW. After complaints of sewer backups today at the Old Post Office at 11th and Pennsylvania NW, WASA crews found what may be a partial collapse in the 42-inch, 102-year-old brick sewer line.

Contractors are positioned on site to begin excavation and repair work early Saturday morning. Meanwhile, WASA has set up bypass pumping to continue to move the sewer flow eastward to the Blue Plains wastewater treatment plant until repairs are completed.