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1h ago

Potomac Sewage Spill Moves to Excavation as White House Presses for Federal Role

Hazardous bacteria persist near the break, with crews now focused on clearing boulders that block access to the failed pipe.

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Pumps and pipes divert raw sewage into the C&O Canal and around a broken section of the Potomac Interceptor, a six-foot-wide pipe that collapsed on January 19, in between the Clara Barton Parkway and the canal, in Cabin John, Md., on Feb. 16, 2026.
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Overview

  • D.C. Water has installed six of seven high‑capacity pumps and expects to begin excavation later this week to remove a rock dam and inspect the collapsed Potomac Interceptor segment.
  • The utility projects about 4–6 weeks to restore normal flow through the Interceptor and roughly 9–10 months for permanent rehabilitation once interim work is complete.
  • Testing near the site shows E. coli hundreds of times above safe levels, with earlier university sampling reporting spikes up to 10,000 times; total discharge stands near 243.5 million gallons.
  • EPA labeled the event a crisis of “historic proportion” and says local jurisdictions have not formally requested federal assistance; officials stress that the drinking water supply remains unaffected.
  • President Trump directed FEMA to coordinate a response but says a formal request is needed, while Maryland Gov. Wes Moore argues the federal government bears responsibility for the Interceptor; residents report persistent odors and curtailed recreation as America250 planning proceeds.