On Wednesday, DC Water said crews are continuing emergency repairs to the Potomac Interceptor following the pipe collapse earlier this year, using a geopolymer material to reinforce the damaged section of the pipe. The collapse released an estimated 243.5 million gallons of wastewater and was described by the University of Maryland as one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history.
Workers have applied an initial layer of the material along about 160 feet of the upstream portion of the pipe and will continue building it to the required thickness over the coming days. Crews are working inside a steel encasement placed within the 72-inch pipe to safely complete the repair. At the same time, a bypass pumping system remains in operation to divert wastewater around the damaged area and prevent sewage from entering the Potomac River.
Officials reported that Wednesday marked the 24th consecutive day without any overflows into the Potomac River. DC Water also began additional water quality sampling at Sycamore Island and the Feeder Channel at Lock 6 while coordinating environmental restoration planning with federal and state agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, and Maryland Department of the Environment. Cleanup and rehabilitation work is underway around the collapse site and nearby shoreline areas, with debris removal continuing both upstream and downstream. DC Water said the emergency repair project remains on schedule, with completion expected in mid March.
