DC Water has completed rehabilitation of a section of the Potomac Interceptor near Broad Run and Lockbridge Road in Loudoun County, Virginia. This project strengthened an important sewer pipeline that helps carry wastewater from parts of Virginia, Maryland, and the District to DC Water’s Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility. This section of the sewer line was prioritized after advanced inspections found worn concrete, corrosion, and exposed steel reinforcement that needed urgent repair. 

The completed work is part of DC Water’s ongoing effort to keep critical infrastructure in good condition, reduce the risk of future repairs, and protect public health and the environment. While customers may not see this pipeline every day, it plays a major role in keeping sewer service reliable across the region. 

Project Updates

July 2, 2026 News Release
DC Water to Continue Daily Potomac River Testing Through July 31 as Potomac Interceptor Repairs Continue

Why this work matters 

Like roads, bridges, and water mains, sewer pipes need maintenance as they age. This project reinforced a section of the Potomac Interceptor so it can continue to safely move wastewater for years to come. Investing in this work now helps prevent larger problems later and supports reliable sewer service for customers and communities. 

Project Details 

🛠️ Work: Rehabilitation of a major sewer pipeline to strengthen the existing pipe and extend its useful life 

📍 Location: Near Broad Run and Lockbridge Road in Loudoun County, Virginia 

📅 Timeline: June 2026 through September 2026 

📏 Project length: Approximately 485 linear feet of pipe rehabilitated 

⭕ Pipe size: 42 inches in diameter 

⏰ Typical work hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

🚧 Traffic impacts: No road closures are expected 

What customers and stakeholders experienced

Early construction activities included building access roads and setting up a temporary pumping system and pipeline to bypass the rehabilitated section. The temporary system allowed wastewater to keep moving safely while crews repaired the pipe. This helped DC Water complete the work without interrupting sewer service. 

Crews used methods that allowed much of the work to happen inside the existing pipe. This reduced the need for large open trenches and helped limit impacts to the surrounding area. 

How the pipe was repaired 

DC Water repaired the pipe using two methods. Crews applied geopolymer, a strong cement-like material that forms a protective lining inside the pipe and cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP), which hardens in place to create a new pipe layer within the existing sewer line. Once these materials hardened, they helped seal worn areas, strengthen the pipe, and protect it from future damage—without having to replace the full section from the ground up. 

About the Potomac Interceptor 

The Potomac Interceptor is a large sewer pipe that carries about 60 million gallons of wastewater each day. It collects wastewater from parts of Fairfax County, Loudoun County, the Town of Vienna, Herndon, Dulles International Airport, and Montgomery County, Maryland and carries it to Blue Plains, where it is treated and the water is returned safely into the environment. 

For more information

Project email: potomac.interceptor@dcwater.com

Project website: dcwater.com/potomacinterceptor

DC Water 24-hour Emergency: 202-612-3400