Pacemaker Fishing Forum

February 11, 2026

Our Shared Commitment to the Potomac River

To our neighbors, community partners, and everyone who cares deeply about the Potomac River,

I want to begin by acknowledging what so many residents, environmental advocates, and river users have expressed in recent weeks: the sewer break on January 19, 2026, was deeply troubling. The Potomac River is a shared natural treasure, and any event that threatens its health understandably causes concern, frustration, and a sense of loss. Those feelings are not only valid - but they are also shared by all of us at DC Water.

I want to explain how this incident unfolded and the actions we have taken to mitigate its impacts and move forward. On the evening of Monday, January 19, 2026, security cameras detected unusual activity near one of our odor control facilities along the Clara Barton Parkway. That alert led our teams to discover a collapse in a section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line, which resulted in an uncontrolled overflow of wastewater into the Potomac River. From that moment forward, DC Water crews and contractors mobilized around the clock - through sub-freezing temperatures and severe winter weather - to contain the overflow, protect public safety, and begin repairs to the 72-inch pipe. By January 24, an emergency bypass was activated to reroute flows and stop the discharge.

Our immediate priorities have been containment, environmental monitoring, and stabilization - working closely with federal, state, and local partners to assess water quality, ecological impacts, and necessary remediation.

In parallel with the on-the-ground response, we have also prioritized frequent communication with the public and our oversight partners. Since the incident was identified, DC Water has issued daily updates and maintained ongoing coordination with local, state, and federal agencies, sharing information as it has been confirmed. We understand that transparency is essential to public trust, and we remain committed to communicating openly - both about what we know and what we are continuing to assess.

We recognize that describing response actions and infrastructure details does not erase the environmental impact or the concern this incident caused. For those who live near the river, recreate on it, or work every day to protect it, witnessing this unfold was distressing. We hear that clearly.

This incident has also underscored a broader reality facing utilities across the country: much of the infrastructure that protects our waterways was built decades ago, long before today’s environmental standards, population growth, and climate pressures. The Potomac Interceptor - more than 60 years old - is a critical regional asset, conveying wastewater from across the metropolitan area to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. Its failure reinforces why sustained investment and vigilance are essential.

DC Water has already committed significant resources to this work, including a $625 million investment to rehabilitate the Potomac Interceptor as part of our 10-year, $10 billion Capital Improvement Program. These investments build on decades of progress, including the Clean Rivers Project, which has already prevented more than 19 billion gallons of combined sewage from entering local waterways, and the Potomac River Tunnel now under construction, which will dramatically reduce overflow events in the future.

Still, we know that past progress does not diminish the responsibility we carry today. Restoring confidence - both in the river’s health and in our stewardship - requires more than repairs. It requires listening, learning, and continuous improvement. We take seriously the calls from community members and environmental partners for accountability, transparency, and long-term solutions, and we are committed to engaging constructively as this work continues.

We also recognize that trust is built not only through timely information, but through direct engagement. We know it is important to create opportunities for dialogue - where questions can be raised, information can be shared, and concerns can be addressed openly. In the days ahead, we are working to bring DC Water leadership together with our partners to engage directly with the community on the response, ongoing assessment, and both near- and long-term solutions.

Protecting the Potomac is not the responsibility of any one organization alone. It is a shared obligation, and we value the advocacy, expertise, and vigilance of those who hold us accountable. Recovery and long-term stewardship require more than immediate action - they require alignment among those responsible for protecting public health, safeguarding the environment, applying technical expertise, and representing the voices of the affected communities. Through continued collaboration, openness, and sustained investment, I am confident we can strengthen both the health of the river and the trust of the communities we serve.

Thank you for your continued engagement, your passion for this extraordinary natural resource, and your partnership as we move forward together.

With appreciation,

David L. Gadis
CEO and General Manager

President Trump on Truth Social regarding the "Ecological Disaster unfolding in the Potomac River..." Trump announces he is he is "directing Federal Authorities to immediately provide all necessary Management, Direction, and Coordination to protect the Potomac, the Water Supply in the Capital Region, and our treasured National Resources in our Nation’s Capital City."

hookup wrote:

President Trump on Truth Social regarding the "Ecological Disaster unfolding in the Potomac River..." Trump announces he is he is "directing Federal Authorities to immediately provide all necessary Management, Direction, and Coordination to protect the Potomac, the Water Supply in the Capital Region, and our treasured National Resources in our Nation’s Capital City."

Good!

As John said, the letter from the DC Water CEO is a month in (a bit late huh?) to this cluster poopie!

Ernie wrote:

Just a thought...according to AI, "the Potomac River at Little Falls near Washington, D.C., has an average flow of approximately
7 billion gallons per day (BGD), though this varies significantly based on season and rainfall, often ranging between 2 and 9+ BGD."

I wonder how long it will take for this mess to get back to normal levels. They've issued alerts like no swimming (too cold anyway).

Just hiked the trails around the ponds.  The creeks running into the Potomac are roaring.  No ice to be found.  The Potomac still has ice,  but is opening up.  Hopefully this snow & ice melt will flush things out good. 

BUT ... they have to stop the flow of raw sewage first.  Stop it completely!

And a jet fuel spill in the Lower James...

Crews have successfully tested the bulkhead system and the enhanced bypass pumps at the Potomac Interceptor.

Six of the seven new high-capacity pumps are now online, and the full system is expected to be fully operational by the end of the week.

No overflow events impacting surface waters have been reported since February 9.

This progress brings us closer to safely beginning emergency repairs inside the pipe.

Details: https://www.dcwater.com/.../update-poto … rceptor...

Well stated. Our infrastructure is in dire need of an overhaul but we keep kicking the can down the road. .

Ernie wrote:

Our infrastructure is in dire need of an overhaul but we keep kicking the can down the road. .

DC Water has had other priorities than updating infrastructure or dealing with the sewage spill

https://www.aol.com/articles/dc-water-c … 29759.html

Also, the DC Mayor wants the Feds to full fund the repairs and the environmental disaster caused

"The mayor is seeking 100% federal reimbursement for costs incurred by the District and the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), along with more federal support to address both immediate impacts and long-term infrastructure concerns."

https://abc3340.com/news/nation-world/w … -floodwall

Another perspective. From Potomac River Rescue Association:

The Potomac River flows at an average rate of 7 billion gallons per day. The sewage spill was about 250 million gallons total ( reports vary).  The 250 million gallons of spillage is less than one hour of flow in comparison.

That is 3.57% of the total daily volume.

The leak has been stopped and has not allowed any additional flow in 10 days.

After 10 days the percentage is not .00357% and reducing daily.

The River from Georgetown to the mouth is about 570 billion gallons (approx.)

The total river volume is replaced in 3 months.

What the media is not telling you is that although they say “it??  is contaminated to Stafford, there has been no testing we can find to prove this accusation.

The PRRA is beginning our own testing from Ft. Belvoir to the power lines and will report our findings.  If you use the DC water findings the levels at National Harbor are well below the 410 mpn for recreational use.

Basically there is a great deal of misinformation and an even greater amount of lack of information to make informed decisions.

We will keep you informed but urge people to stay informed and understand this will flush through well before boating season begins. In the mean time exercise caution and don’t go swimming in the 40 degree water.

The flushing has begun!

Thanks to Chris Campo fro this pic of Great Falls today.

From Virginia Department of Environmental Quality:

https://www.deq.virginia.gov/news-info/ … M6iel4NRcA

We were very lucky that the break happened downstream of the water intake for drinking water.  Rain and snow melt helped a lot with flushing the spill.  Hope this keeps pressure to complete needed repairs before there is another issue.  I still would not eat any fish or shellfish coming out of the Potomac for a while.  Big blow to that industry/business.

They restricted harvest.  It may be unrestricted with new information. 

Potomac River shellfish closure information
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has lifted the precautionary shellfish harvesting closure on the Potomac River, effective March 10, 2026. This decision is based on extensive water testing that confirmed no contamination from an upstream sewage spill. The closure had previously covered a segment of the river roughly 60 miles downstream from the spill site, stretching from the Port Tobacco River region to the U.S. Route 301 bridge in Charles County.