Community Engagement

DC Water is working with its partner agencies across the region that are served by the Potomac Interceptor to provide updates and information about he ongoing rehabilitation work in their neighborhoods. This includes community meetings, local events, door-to-door outreach and more. 

On Tuesday, July 7, DC Water and WSSC officials visited the Tobytown community in Potomac, Maryland, to address community concerns over potential impacts to the property and cemetery from the work being done at nearby Pennyfield Lock. Staff from the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County were also present.

Tobytown is a historic enclave settled by freed slaves, and the residents living there today are direct descendants of the founders. 

DC Water staff reassured residents that work would not impact the Tobytown property or cemetery. 

That was followed on Wednesday, July 8, with a walk-through of the Pennyfield Lock site with camp and paddle organizations and other community members to answer questions concerns, and how we can work with these groups to maintain access to the Potomac River and surrounding park. 

On Thursday, June 11, we held a virtual meeting to inform residents and other stakeholders about the emergency rehabilitation of a section of the Potomac Interceptor near Pennyfield Lock (Lock 22) in Potomac, Maryland. Watch the meeting and view the presentation below.  

Please click on the link below to see the presentation from the meeting.

June 11 Community Meeting Presentation

About the Potomac Interceptor

The Potomac Inteceptor was built by the federal government more than 60 years ago, and was later transferred to DC Water to maintain and operate. The system includes 11 tunnel sections and two river crossings.

On January 19, 2026, a section of the Potomac Interceptor collapsed along Clara Barton Parkway in Cabin John, Maryland. Information about the incident, including ongoing water quality monitoring and the environmental rehabilitation efforts can be found here. 

Did You Know?

Buildings in Disguise- There are multiple buildings serving as odor control facilities. These facilities draw odorous air from the Potomac Interceptor, pass the air through a media-filled vessel to remove the majority of odors, and discharge the treated air to the atmosphere. The facilities are part of the Potomac Interceptor's Odor Control Abatement Program.