DC Water will continue daily testing of the Potomac River through July 31 as cleanup and repairs continue following the January collapse of a section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line near Cabin John.
The utility said recent testing shows the river has returned to normal water quality conditions. Cleanup work at the C&O Canal near the collapse site is expected to be completed by mid-July, while repairs continue at the Cabin John site and four other locations along the 54-mile sewer system. DC Water and the Maryland Department of the Environment are expected to finalize an updated environmental rehabilitation plan later this month.
The Potomac Interceptor is one of the region’s largest sewer lines, carrying approximately 60 million gallons of wastewater daily from parts of Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., to DC Water’s Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. Officials said temporary bypass systems are being used during repairs to prevent interruptions to sewer service and protect water quality.
