The Maryland Department of the Environment issued a statement Friday regarding the January 19 breach of the Potomac Interceptor, a major sewer line owned and maintained by DC Water, along Clara Barton Parkway in Montgomery County.
The incident released an estimated 240 to 300 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River. Governor Wes Moore said the pipeline is under federal jurisdiction and located on National Park Service property, with primary responsibility for repairs held by the District of Columbia and the federal government, while Maryland has supported response and monitoring efforts in coordination with regional partners.
State agencies said wastewater has not entered the river since early February and that repair crews have accessed the damaged section and begun long-term remediation work. The Maryland Department of the Environment, along with the Maryland Department of Health, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the Maryland Department of Agriculture, continues to oversee water quality testing, shellfish safety, wildlife assessments, and public health advisories. Officials said monitoring and interagency coordination will continue to ensure environmental impacts are addressed and public health and economic activities are protected.
