photo by John Cochran
From the DC Office of the Attorney General:
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb announced today that he is encouraging District residents to report possible environmental violations directly to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) so that the office can investigate whether to take legal action against polluters and others who endanger DC residents and our natural resources. Residents can share tips about violations of DC environmental laws—like (more…)
“Dear PoPville,
I’ve noticed a lot of fake cherry blossom and flower decor in restaurants all over the city and I was wondering if the community might be able to get the word out about how damaging this decor is to bees. (more…)
From DC Water (March 14, 2026):
“After 55 days of extraordinary effort with crews working around the clock, DC Water has successfully completed emergency repairs and returned the flow to the Potomac Interceptor to mark a major milestone. The wastewater rushed back into the pipe today, and bypass pumps were turned off, as a large crane lifted the steel bulkhead gate that had been blocking flow for the repairs.
Soon after the bypass pumps were turned off, the flow in the C & O Canal quickly dropped as the wastewater that had been diverted around the collapse site drained from the canal. Crews immediate began work on the environmental rehabilitation of the canal. The initial cleanup will involve flushing it with freshwater from the Potomac River, followed by debris clearing, mucking, and removing contaminated soil. (more…)
ICYMI yesterday: “Department of Health Lifts Potomac River Recreational Advisory for Washington, DC” but “Potomac Conservancy Issues Public Statement After DC Water Fails to Respond to Community Letter”
The latest from DC Water:
“DC Water has begun the rehabilitation and environmental restoration to address areas affected by the sewer overflow from a section of the Potomac Interceptor that collapsed January 19. Contaminated material is being hauled away and work is underway to clear trees, brush, and contaminated debris in and around the collapse site as part of the environmental restoration plan approved by the National Park Service (NPS).
On February 28, NPS issued a Special Use Permit for the repair, rehabilitation, and environmental restoration of the Potomac Interceptor and the C&O Canal National Historical Park at the area of the Potomac Interceptor collapse between Locks 10 and 14.
DC Water continues to evaluate the environmental impacts of the overflow and is exploring further restoration efforts based on input from concerned residents and community groups, along with the ongoing collaboration with federal, state, and local regulators overseeing the environmental restoration.
In response to feedback, (more…)
photo by Diane Krauthamer
From the Mayor’s Office:
“The District Department of Health (DC Health) has lifted the recreational advisory for the Potomac River in Washington, DC, effective immediately. Consistent water quality testing shows bacterial levels are now within safe ranges for recreation. (more…)
From FEMA:
“FEMA announced today that federal disaster assistance is available to the District of Columbia to supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from a sewer line collapse from Jan. 19, 2026, and continuing.
The President’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, to protect property, public health and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe.
This assistance is for the District of Columbia and the area where the District of Columbia has responsibilities in the State of Maryland and Commonwealth of Virginia.
Specifically, (more…)
Update on the Potomac Interceptor Break from DC Water:
“DC Water has successfully reached the damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor, marking a critical step in the ongoing damage assessment and repair efforts. Crews today are manually digging out the affected area, carefully removing sludge, soil, and debris from the collapsed pipe. The work is slow and painstaking, as large boulders and rocks complicate the excavation process. Crews are using both manual labor and an excavator to clear obstructions, working carefully not to cause any additional damage.
A section of the sewer line collapsed on January 19, (more…)
From the Mayor’s Office:
“As the region continues responding to the Potomac Interceptor break, Mayor Muriel Bowser requested federal support through a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration request. In order to make the request, the Mayor first declared a local public emergency. In addition to seeking 100% reimbursement for costs incurred by the District and the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), the Mayor has requested federal support in the following areas: (more…)
The latest from DC Water:
“DC Water Advances Work to Repair Damaged Section of Potomac Interceptor
Emergency repair expected to take 4-6 weeks, followed by long-term rehabilitation
February 16, 2026
DC Water crews and its contractors, working under challenging conditions over the past month, are nearing completion of an enhanced bypass system that will allow emergency repairs to begin on a damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor. The emergency repair is expected to take another 4-6 weeks once the enhanced bypass system is activated and will address the immediate repairs to the damaged section of the pipe, restore wastewater flow back into the Potomac Interceptor, eliminate the temporary bypass pumping system in the C&O Canal, and allow for environmental restoration.
Over the weekend, (more…)
From DC Water:
“February 11, 2026
Our Shared Commitment to the Potomac River
To our neighbors, community partners, and everyone who cares deeply about the Potomac River,
I want to begin by acknowledging what so many residents, environmental advocates, and river users have expressed in recent weeks: the sewer break on January 19, 2026, was deeply troubling. The Potomac River is a shared natural treasure, and any event that threatens its health understandably causes concern, frustration, and a sense of loss. Those feelings are not only valid – but they are also shared by all of us at DC Water.
I want to explain how this incident unfolded and the actions we have taken to mitigate its impacts and move forward. On the evening of Monday, January 19, 2026, security cameras detected unusual activity near one of our odor control facilities along the Clara Barton Parkway. That alert led our teams to discover a collapse in a section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line, which resulted in an uncontrolled overflow of wastewater into the Potomac River. From that moment forward, (more…)