By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
D.C. Water is in the midst of a cleanup effort after a 72-inch section of the Potomac Interceptor, a sanitary sewer system that transports roughly 60 million gallons of wastewater daily, collapsed along Clara Barton Parkway and C&O Canal National Historic Park in Montgomery County, Md. on Jan. 19. The infrastructure failure sent millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River and the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal.
To contain the overflow and begin repairs, crews have activated a temporary bypass system. On Jan. 24, crews installed six pumps upstream of the collapse to divert wastewater into an isolated section of the C&O Canal before routing it back into the sewer line downstream. Additional pumps were being installed as of Jan. 26 to increase pumping capacity.
In a Jan. 26 release, D.C. Water said its teams are working with federal, state and local partners to confine the overflow, evaluate environmental impacts and keep the public informed.
“Impacts to water quality are not unexpected given the volume of overflows that resulted from the unanticipated collapse of a 72-inch diameter section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line in C&O Canal National Historic Park,” the statement read. “Containing the overflows and repairing the damaged pipe are the most effective ways to mitigate these impacts.”
The water authority confirmed that there has been no impact to drinking water. It encouraged the public to heed posted warning signs in affected areas. Anyone exposed to raw sewage should leave the area, wash exposed skin, disinfect items, avoid contaminated food or water, seek medical attention if they experience symptoms and report exposure at 202-612-3400.
Constructed in 1960, the Potomac Interceptor serves Fairfax and Loudoun Counties in Va.; Montgomery County, Md.; the towns of Vienna and Herndon, Va.; and Dulles Airport. Over the years, significant corrosion has weakened the pipe. D.C. Water is investing $625 million over the next decade to repair and upgrade the system.
Since the spill, local environmental organizations have been closely monitoring cleanup efforts.
Gussie Maguire, Maryland staff scientist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, called the volume of the overflow “alarming” in a Jan. 26 statement.
“The Potomac River is one of the Chesapeake Bay’s largest tributaries and is the only source of drinking water for people in the D.C. area,” said Maguire in the statement. “Untreated sewage can contain toxic chemicals, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, excess nutrients, viruses and bacteria. These pollutants can pose health risks to people and animals who come in contact with or ingest untreated water.”
She explained that the spill could also flow into the Chesapeake Bay and stimulate algal blooms, which can lead to dead zones and kill fish.
“Maryland, D.C. and Virginia have made significant investments in recent years toward reducing wastewater pollution,” said Maguire. “However, this incident proves that consistent pipe and infrastructure maintenance—and continued diligence— are still needed to protect our drinking water and wildlife across the region.”
