On Tuesday, February 10, DC Water provided an update on repairs to a major sewer line that collapsed on January 19 along Clara Barton Parkway near the I-495 interchange and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
The collapse released an estimated tens of millions of gallons of wastewater per day into the Potomac River, prompting emergency response and repair efforts. Officials said recent maintenance and operational challenges led to a limited overflow of less than 5,000 gallons, which was contained on-site and did not enter the river.
DC Water reported that crews are continuing to install additional bypass pumps and a bulkhead inside the damaged pipe to block wastewater flow and allow safe removal of a rock dam. Pumping capacity remains a challenge, particularly when equipment is taken offline for cleaning, including recent clogs caused by non-disposable wipes. Water quality sampling is ongoing, with elevated E. coli levels detected near Lock 10, consistent with earlier overflow events and snowmelt runoff, while downstream locations remain below federal recreational safety standards. Officials said quality control measures have been strengthened following recent data corrections.
