Potomac Sewage Spill Triggers Closures as Short-Term Fixes Begin
A 54-mile Potomac Interceptor ruptured, releasing hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac, prompting a ban on river recreation. DC Water bypassed the leak by routing sewage into the C&O Canal and aims a short-term repair by mid‑March with permanent fixes months away. Federal and local agencies plan cleanup and river restoration, while a long‑term tunnel project (the Clean Rivers Project) seeks to capture up to 93% of wastewater by 2030.