Environment

Spewing Wastewater Update: Huzzah! “No Sewer Overflows Reported Today from Damaged Sewer Line as Excavation Work, Pumping Continues”

By Prince Of Petworth

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…)

Checking in on the Damaged Sewer Line Spewing Wastewater: “Engineers on-site report the lowest level of overflow from the area around the collapse since the incident started”

By Prince Of Petworth

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…)

DC Water UPDATE: “Sewer Overflow Significantly Reduced from Collapsed Sewer Line, Weather Challenges Remain for Full Containment”

By Prince Of Petworth

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…)

DC Water Update on Wastewater Spewing into stream leading to the Potomac River

By Prince Of Petworth

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…)

Report: “Potomac River holds steady at “B” for water quality – still short of fishable and swimmable”

By Prince Of Petworth


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…)

“Developer will pay $200,000 and permanently protect remaining wetlands on its property”

By Prince Of Petworth


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…)

“DC Trails Will Program Engines on Entire Bus Fleet to Prevent Illegal Idling and Re-Train Drivers to Protect Health and Safety of DC Residents”

By Prince Of Petworth


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…)

“Washington Gas Has Failed to Take Action to Stop Toxic Chemicals from Leaching into the Anacostia River; Settlement Requires Additional Mitigation Measures”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Jim Havard

From the DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG):

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Washington Gas has agreed to contain hazardous pollution actively seeping into the Anacostia River at the former site of the company’s East Station, a gas plant that operated on the banks of the river for nearly 100 years.

An investigation by the District’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) uncovered evidence that toxic chemicals—byproducts of gas manufacturing at the shuttered plant—are currently bubbling up from the contaminated riverbed and seeping into the water from polluted soil on the riverbank. OAG alleges that Washington Gas has failed to take adequate steps to prevent the ongoing release of pollutants. Under the terms of a new settlement agreement, the company must install a new floating boom to contain pollution on the surface of the water; install new barriers to prevent the release of pollutants from the riverbed and riverbank; submit to ongoing monitoring by the District; and face fines for any noncompliance. (more…)

“Sign The Petition: Don’t Cut Down RFK’s Heritage Trees”

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to all who passed on from Casey Trees:

“For more than 60 years, the trees at RFK have been growing into the giants you see today—living landmarks that frame the stadium and provide much-needed relief from the heat.

Now, their fate remains uncertain. Last month, the DC Council advanced legislation granting developers blanket permission to cut down at least 30 historic trees without even trying to incorporate them into the new campus. It’s unacceptable. (more…)

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