Potomac Interceptor Repairs Update
March 1, 2026
- Today marks a milestone, as we reach the three-week point with no overflows entering the Potomac River. The last release to reach the river occurred on February 8.
- On February 28, National Park Service (NPS) issued a Special Use Permit for the repair, rehabilitation, and environmental restoration of the Potomac Interceptor and the C&O Canal National ...
Potomac Interceptor Repairs Update
February 28, 2026
- The bypass pumping system continues to divert wastewater around the collapse site and back into the Potomac Interceptor, preventing any overflows from reaching the Potomac River in nearly three weeks. The last time an overflow reached the river was 20 days ago, February 8.
- Crews continue to clean the pipe and progress is being made to remove the ...
DC Water will be performing repairs to the Rock Creek Main Interceptor (RCMI) within the West End and Georgetown Neighborhoods. This will require temporary lane closures beginning tonight, February 27, at 8 PM through Monday, March 2, at 5 AM.
No overflows reaching the Potomac River for 19 days. The last release to enter the river occurred on February 8. Crews were able to reach some of the additional large rocks downstream of the collapsed section and remove them without additional excavation. Cleaning continues in the area upstream of the damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor to remove muck, debris, and smaller rocks.
DC Water is inviting Maryland residents to join us tonight for a community meeting at Walt Whitman High School at 7 p.m. for an update about ongoing repair efforts on a section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line that failed, directly impacting the surrounding Montgomery County communities. The meeting will provide an opportunity for residents to ask questions, learn about planned environmental ...
Crews continue work to clean the remaining debris upstream and downstream of the damaged Potomac Interceptor Pipe, with no overflows entering the Potomac River in 18 days.
A rock and debris dam that had been blocking the pipe has been removed, but some large rocks and boulders remain in other sections of the pipe and may require additional excavation to remove.
DC Water has made significant progress toward repairing a damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor. Crews are nearly done removing a rock and debris dam that was blocking the pipe. Several feet of rocks and debris remain to be cleared and is expected to be completed overnight. Ongoing work continues to maintain bypass pumping operations 24/7 with no overflows reported for 17 days.
As DC Water continues repair efforts on the Potomac Interceptor sewer line, we want to provide an opportunity for the community to engage with us on Wednesday, February 25, to ask questions, and learn more about the response, impacts to the Potomac River, and next steps in the emergency repair and long-term rehabilitation efforts.
Repairs are moving forward, with crews closer to reaching a debris dam and large rocks blocking a section of the damaged Potomac Interceptor. Work has been completed to fully extend the excavation site and install trench boxes to stabilize and isolate the additional pipe sections. No overflows entering the Potomac River have occurred in 16 days.
The excavation around a damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor has been extended and trench boxes installed to provide shoring and stability. This doubles the size of the excavated area, to connect the collapse site with a downstream access point to the Potomac Interceptor.
