Congress Questions Officials on Potomac River Sewage Spill

Members of a congressional subcommittee questioned utility leaders and state officials this week about their knowledge of preexisting problems with the sewage line that collapsed on Jan. 19 near the Potomac River. S. history. More than 242 million gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into the Potomac River after a section of the 72-inch-diameter Potomac Interceptor sewer line collapsed.

Answering questions from Rep.

), the head of the utility that oversees the Potomac Interceptor said at the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing Wednesday that the sewage pipe was debilitated by boulders that fell into the pipe. David Gadis, chief executive officer of DC Water, added that he was not aware of the dangerous potential they posed to this part of the pipeline but knew about the existence of boulders around the pipes since 2018.

Rep. ) said the country’s water infrastructure desperately needs investments in repairs and system upgrades. He said President Donald Trump is ignoring water system infrastructure, noting that his proposed Environmental Protection Agency budget cuts the clean water and drinking water state revolving funds that would provide water systems with resources to make necessary repairs and improvements.

Environment held a hybrid community meeting on Monday with staff from DC Water and the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services to update residents about the ongoing restoration project and public health guidelines following the incident.

One resident asked why the river still smells and is getting worse. Montgomery County Health Officer Kisha Davis said she could not answer the question because she had not been there. She assured the resident the towpath is safe. Residents also had questions about the water quality and whether it is usable for recreation.

Eric Nothman, race director for the Potomac Whitewater Racing Center, asked when it would be safe for people to put their kayaks and canoes back in the water. Davis said the county did not have enough data yet to make that determination.