WASHINGTON — Exactly one month after a major sewer line collapsed, pouring raw sewage into the Potomac River, environmental advocates and experts warned the public health threat could continue for months.
The initial spill occurred on Jan. 19 when a section of the Potomac Interceptor, a regional sewer system, collapsed along the Clara Barton Parkway in Montgomery County, Md. According to DC Water, which operates and manages the sewer system, approximately 243 million gallons of wastewater have overflowed from the collapse site.
Since the collapse, government and independent researchers have monitored the quality of the water around the rupture, specifically testing for E. coli. This bacterium indicates sewage contamination, which could cause vomiting and diarrhea for anyone who comes into contact with the water. Experts say water conditions can change day by day, making consistent monitoring critical.
Despite a temporary remedy, the effects of the enormous spill will likely be prolonged because of the limitations of the fix and the weather conditions. That creates uncertainty, inconvenience and possible health risks for the many people who enjoy recreation by the river.
Betsy Nicholas, the president of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, a local environmental advocacy group, said the weather conditions immediately following the spill could prolong its impact.
“The entire Potomac was completely frozen just a few days after this spill started,” Nicholas said. “So all of that [sewage] was contained in the ice, and the river is going to thaw more slowly than we’d see on our streets.”
As the ice melts gradually, she said, contaminants trapped beneath the surface could continue affecting water quality for weeks or even months.
“I can’t imagine going through the warm months into the summer without being able to get in and kayak and swim and all of those things in the Potomac,” Nicholas said. “Hopefully, we will get enough information to do that and stay safe.”
The Potomac Riverkeeper Network’s latest findings suggested people should avoid areas closest to the rupture site, particularly around Lock 10 and the adjacent C&O Canal, where contaminated water has reached the banks. Walking along the waterfront in places such as Georgetown or National Harbor was considered low risk, Nicholas said, but kayaking, rowing or other activities that involve direct contact with the water should be avoided for now.
DC Water Chief Engineer Moussa Wone said permanent repairs of the pipe would take up to nine months. A temporary bypass structure was installed to reroute wastewater back into the sewer system.
“There’s also the potential, until it’s fully repaired, that we’re going to have small overflows there,” Nicholas said. “Ultimately, we would like to see daily monitoring and posting of the results so that we can make sure that everyone stays safe.”
Hedrick Belin, President of the Potomac Conservancy, an environmental non-profit organization, called the spill “an active incident.” He said public access to up-to-date water quality data is critical to protecting public health and safety.
“Until [the] 40 to 60 million gallons of sewage that’s flowing every day is back in a pipe, fully contained, risks to public health, to the environment, to recreation continue,” Belin said.
DC Water is conducting daily water quality tests and posting the results online, while the Potomac Riverkeeper Network is working with the University of Maryland to publish weekly updates on Instagram. Nicholas said it’s essential to have multiple independent sources sharing and verifying data.
Nicholas and Belin both said that they believe local and federal governments have not adequately warned the public. Washington did not issue an advisory urging people and pets to avoid the river until Feb. 12, nearly a month after the spill began.
“People should be calling for stronger leadership at the local, state, and federal level about this ongoing incident, demanding more accountability, more communication, more information, and ultimately urgency to get this crisis under control,” Belin said.