DC DRINKING WATER IS A SAFE AND SEPARATE SYSTEM AND IS NOT IMPACTED BY THE SEWAGE RELEASE. 

However, because the Potomac River flows downstream from Maryland into Washington, the portion of the river in the District is affected by this spill. 

A major concern with untreated sewage is the presence of a bacteria commonly called “E. coli.” E. coli, when it reaches certain levels, can be dangerous to human beings. Sewage also contains other bacteria, viruses, and harmful chemicals. 

Aside from its risk to humans, raw sewage is also harmful to the environment. 

Most importantly, drinking water is safe and is not impacted by the sewage release.  The flow of sewage into the Potomac River has occurred downstream of any drinking water intake from the river.    

Swimming is already prohibited in District waters. You should not swim in the river.

 Wash the affected area with soap and water as soon as possible. If you think you may have become sick from sewage, contact your health provider. Symptoms can vary, but may include diarrhea, fever, cramps, nausea, coughing, vomiting, headache, weakness, loss of appetite, and fatigue. 

 Currently, sewage from the broken pipe is being temporarily put into a small section of the empty C&O canal, then being pumped back into the pipeline. This is preventing additional sewage from going into the Potomac River.

It is not safe to touch raw sewage. Airborne risks should be unlikely but at-risk or vulnerable individuals should be cautious. Potential impacts from being on the public paths near the portion of the C&O canal where sewage is being pumped include:

• A slight risk of airborne exposure to inhaling microorganisms that could lead to illness;
• Risk of headaches, nausea, and/or breathing problems caused by exposure to sewage gasses; and
• The potential to accidentally touch contamination in areas where sewage may have spilled, but it is no longer visible.These hazards are of greater concern for immunocompromised individuals, the elderly and infants, and toddlers. 

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) is a public utility responsible for water and sewage in the District of Columbia. DC Water is currently working on measures to contain the spill and repair the pipeline. 

The DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) is the DC Government agency responsible for environmental and energy programs in the District of Columbia. DOEE is working to monitor impacts from this spill in the District, and will also monitor the long-term impacts to fish, wildlife, and the river. 

The DC Department of Health (DOH) tracks the E. Coli levels and issues alerts to the public when appropriate and necessary.

Right now, local, state, and federal agencies are working collaboratively to monitor the progress of repairs and impacts on the downstream community.

E. coli is typically used as an indicator for all types of bacteria and viruses that can be harmful to human health. Simply put, E. coli measurements are used as a standardized test to determine if the water is safe. 

There is natural bacteria present in all bodies of water, and low levels are considered safe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and other states, use a consistent standard level to determine if a body of water is safe for recreation. This level is 410 MPN/100 mL for E. coli, which means 410 colonies of E. coli bacteria in a 100 mL sample of water. 

If testing numbers show levels below 410 MPN/100ML (marked in green), then the water is considered safe for recreation according to DC and federal standards. As of March 2nd, consistent water quality testing has shown bacterial levels are within safe ranges for recreation.

DOEE’s water quality monitoring team is collecting weekly samples from the Potomac and Anacostia rivers. Results from these samples are posted in the table below. DOEE will be conducting weekly sampling, posted on Fridays. 

In addition to DOEE’s results, DC Water is conducting daily testing at several sites in the Potomac, with their results posted here: News | DC Water. 

Linked here are ongoing testing results from DC Water, Potomac Riverkeeper, and DOEE, along with the locations of the testing sites. 

Map of Sampling Stations for DC Water (blue dots) and DOEE (pink dots). 

Multiple state and federal agencies are cooperating to oversee the repair operations and protect the environment, including the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), and National Park Service (NPS). DOEE and EPA are inspecting the bypass weekly to ensure that DC Water is doing everything possible to prevent overflows, contain and mitigate any overflows that occur, as well as plan for comprehensive environmental restoration. 

On January 29, 2026, DC Water began daily bacteria monitoring at 6 locations. DOEE has increased the frequency of E. coli monitoring from weekly to daily and is exploring partnerships to add more locations. As of March 2nd, consistent water quality testing has shown bacterial levels are within safe ranges for recreation.

DOEE is planning fish and wildlife surveys beginning in the spring that will help indicate if the sewage spill has larger impacts.

Raw sewage is harmful to the environment. Solids in sewage can smother aquatic habitats. Plants and animals can suffer infections from the bacteria, viruses and other pathogens; they can also suffer from acute toxicity in sewage chemicals. The natural flow of the river helps to mitigate or limit these impacts from this spill.

DOEE is planning fish and wildlife surveys beginning in the spring that will help indicate if the sewage spill has larger impacts..

 Long-term impacts are still being evaluated. However, the natural flow of the river will help to mitigate impacts from the spill over time.    

• Water Quality: The volume of water in the Potomac River is large and it moves swiftly past the District, being refreshed with cleaner water from upriver. The spill was around five miles upstream, and the last reported overflow was February 9th.  The water polluted by the Potomac Interceptor break was quickly diluted by the large volume of clean Potomac River water and has now moved far downstream of the District. 

• Sediment: The natural flow will help to renew shoreline and river bottom sediments. DOEE will continue to monitor potential impacts. 

• Fish: DOEE has not received any reports of fish kills in the District. Anglers and the general public who observe a fish kill (50 or more dead fish floating on the surface of the water), should contact DOEE’s Fisheries and Wildlife Division at (202) 535-2260 with the following information: exact location of the floating fish and date, time, and the extent of the fish kill observed. DOEE biologists will monitor fish populations across the District throughout the spring, summer, and fall as a part of our regular fisheries surveys. 

• Wildlife: DOEE and its partners have not received any reports of sick, injured, or dead wildlife associated with areas in the District downstream from the spill. Members of the public who observe sick or injured wildlife should call City Wildlife at (202) 882-1000 (between 9 am - 5 pm daily) or Brandywine Valley SPCA at (202) 888-7387 (after 5 pm). Members of the public should report dead wildlife to DOEE’s Fisheries and Wildlife Division at (202) 535-2260 with the following information: exact location of the dead wildlife and date, time, and number of animals observed. DOEE biologists will monitor wildlife populations across the District throughout the spring, summer, and fall as a part of our regular wildlife surveys. 

Right now, sewage is being diverted into a small Maryland portion of the C&O Canal to prevent additional contamination to the Potomac River. There have not been any spills in the river reported by DC Water since February 9th.

Because the canal was dry and lined with clay, which prevents leaks, it was temporarily used to pump and store sewage, keeping it out of the river. About a quarter mile of the canal in Maryland is being used for this purpose. After this incident is over and repairs are complete, the canal will likely require environmental cleanup efforts

DC Water publishes daily updates on response operations related to infrastructure repair, containment of the sewage, environmental monitoring, and restoration planning. Read their updates here: News | DC Water.

The Potomac River is a 405-mile-long natural river that flows from West Virginia, through DC, and into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal is a historic shipping lane constructed on the north side of the Potomac River. It runs nearby, but separate from, the Potomac. It goes 185 miles from Washington, DC west to Cumberland, Maryland. It became a national park, owned by the federal government, in 1971. Today, the canal is not in use and is empty.