“A significant overflow occurred overnight after pump capacity dropped during a high-flow period. An earlier, smaller overflow was contained. New pumps may arrive this week to help stabilize operations. Water quality sampling continues.”
The latest from DC Water:
“UPDATE: Potomac Interceptor Collapse, February 9
Highlights (more…)
From DC Water:
“February 5, 2026
Overnight CCTV inspection of the Potomac Interceptor revealed the blockage inside the collapsed sewer line is far more significant, showing a large rock dam stretching approximately 30 feet downstream of the original failure. The unexpected discovery exposed the severity of the obstruction and prompted an immediate reassessment that will extend the timeline for cleaning and repairs.
It’s expected to take an estimated 4-6 weeks of additional time to get a system in place that will add more, larger bypass pumps in a new location and stabilize the site for heavy machinery to safely begin removing the large rocks and boulders inside the sewer line. While the existing bypass system has mostly contained overflows, more pumps are needed to further reduce the remaining flow getting through the pipe. A bulkhead will then be installed upstream of the failure to block the pipe and limit the wastewater reaching the collapse site.
A section of the sewer line collapsed January 19, along Clara Barton Parkway and the 495 interchange and the C & O Canal National Historical Park, causing an estimated 40 million gallons a day of wastewater to escape and enter the Potomac River. (more…)
The latest from DC Water:
“UPDATE: No Sewer Overflows Reported Today from Damaged Sewer Line as Excavation Work, Pumping Continues
Federal, State, and Local Officials Get Firsthand Look at Collapse Site and Repair Efforts
January 29, 2026
Over the past 24-hours, DC Water engineers for the first time report no sanitary sewer overflows escaping from a damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor since the incident happened. The 72-inch diameter pipe section collapsed on January 19, along Clara Barton Parkway and the C & O Canal National Historical Park in Montgomery County, MD.
This marks major progress in containment efforts, (more…)
From DC Water January 28, 2026:
“UPDATE: DC Water Begins Excavation to Assess Damaged Sewer Line and Lay Groundwork for Repair Efforts
Excavation is underway to access a damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor, a major sewer line that collapsed on January 19, along Clara Barton Parkway near the 495-interchange and C & O National Historical Park in Montgomery County, MD. This marks a pivotal step forward in the recovery process, allowing DC Water and its contractor to directly inspect the damaged pipe, exposing the affected section to assess its condition and formulate the best possible repair strategy.
A bypass system activated this weekend continues to successfully divert wastewater back into the sewer line further downstream of the collapse site. Engineers on-site report the lowest level of overflow from the area around the collapse since the incident started allowing the excavation activities to begin.
While still in the early stages of excavation, (more…)
Update from DC Water:
“DC Water teams and contractors are working around the clock to operate a bypass system that diverts wastewater away from a damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor. This major sewer line overflowed along the Clara Barton Parkway and C & O National Historical Park one week ago. Industrial pumps have been running since late Saturday, but heavy snow and extreme cold continue to create challenges for the equipment and operations. (more…)
From DC WATER:
“Update: Work Underway to Drain Remaining Wastewater from Damaged Sewer Line to Begin Excavation and Repair
DC Water is nearing full containment on a sanitary sewer overflow, nearly a week after a section of the Potomac Interceptor – a major sewer line – collapsed along Clara Barton Parkway and the C & O Canal National Historical Park in Montgomery County, MD. In the first full day of operation since a temporary bypass system was activated, the flow of wastewater downstream where it re-enters the sewer line has increased by about 40 million gallons per day.
This indicates significant progress towards containment. (more…)
From the SW BID:
“Andrea Limauro, a political muralist and city planner based in Washington, DC, in partnership with the Southwest Business Improvement District (SWBID), today announced the completion of “A River Runs Through It,” the third mural in his “The Climate of Future Past Series.” (more…)
photo by Mark Andre
From the Potomac Conservancy:
“The Potomac River is in the midst of a remarkable comeback and is entering a decisive decade in its restoration. The new 2025 Potomac River Report Card by Potomac Conservancy confirms outdoor recreation in the Potomac River region has surged 10% since 2020, and major infrastructure improvements are addressing urban pollution. But the river’s future is now in question as rising threats to water quality threaten to reverse decades of progress, preventing the Potomac’s return to being a fully fishable and swimmable river.
After decades of hard-fought recovery, the health of “the nation’s river” remains at a “B” on its 2025 report card from the non-profit Potomac Conservancy, with much of the blame falling on rapid forest loss and polluted runoff from sprawl. (more…)
photos via DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb
From the office of the DC Attorney General:
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that the Residences at Kenilworth Park, LLC (RKP), the developer and owner of an assisted living apartment complex in Ward 7, will pay $200,000 and permanently protect remaining wetlands on its property to resolve allegations that it violated multiple District environmental laws during construction, including illegally draining neighboring wetlands and discharging pollutants into DC waters. (more…)
photo by Emma K Alexandra
From the Office of the Attorney General (OAG):
“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that DC Trails, a local charter bus company, and its subsidiary DC2NY (which does business as BestBus), will pay $85,000 and program its bus engines to shut off after three minutes of idling as part of a settlement with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to address persistent air pollution violations.
An investigation by the District’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) uncovered evidence that DC Trails buses frequently idled their engines for longer (more…)