A 72-inch diameter water sewage pipe burst in D.C. near the C&O Canal in Cabin John, Maryland on Jan. 19. As a result, the Potomac River is still contaminated with roughly 300 million gallons of raw sewage. The issue is ongoing as sewage remains in the river, sparking concerns from legislators and community members alike.
As of now, there have not been any further sewage overflows, meaning that the problem is stabilized. DC Water, a public utility that treats wastewater, has been responsible for cleaning up the initial damage—on Jan. 23, the company installed pumps to redirect the sewage so repairs could be made on the most affected parts.
Initial test results by the Potomac Riverkeeper Network and the University of Maryland reported that E. Coli levels from the raw sewage were 10,000 times over the recreational water quality limit. Subsequently, on Feb. 7, the Potomac Conservatory, a non-profit that advocates clean water, submitted a letter signed by 2,100 community members demanding answers and action from DC Water…