DC Water Completes Final Repairs to Potomac Interceptor

Wastewater flow restored after nearly two months of emergency work to fix ruptured 72-inch sewage pipeline

Mar. 15, 2026 at 5:25pm

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DC Water has completed the final steps to restore flow to the Potomac Interceptor, a 72-inch sewage pipeline that ruptured on January 19, spilling 250 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Potomac River. The emergency repair work took nearly two months and required a large crew working around the clock to fix the pipe and clean up the spill.

Why it matters

The Potomac Interceptor is a critical piece of infrastructure that carries wastewater from the DC area to treatment plants. The rupture and resulting spill had major environmental and public health implications, highlighting the need to maintain and upgrade aging sewage systems in the region.

The details

To make the emergency repair, DC Water had to cut off all flow to the Potomac Interceptor downstream, installing a steel bulkhead gate to block the flow. Crews then worked to fix the ruptured pipe, with an average of 53 DC Water employees on site, some working 12-hour shifts around the clock. The cleanup effort was described as "herculean," with the agency using enough fuel to power 11-12 homes for a year to keep the pumps running. Workers had to clear rags and wipes that were clogging the pumps.

  • The Potomac Interceptor ruptured on January 19, 2026.
  • DC Water completed the final steps to restore flow on March 15, 2026.

The players

DC Water

The water and sewer utility serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Sherri Lewis

A spokesperson for DC Water.

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What they’re saying

“We've had an average of about 53 people just for DC Water out here. That doesn't include our federal partners, who have also been out here working on the environmental rehabilitation and storm water management piece of things.”

— Sherri Lewis, DC Water spokesperson (marylandmatters.org)

“It's been a lot of hard work, and I think everybody is really excited to get to this point. We still have a lot of work ahead.”

— Sherri Lewis, DC Water spokesperson (marylandmatters.org)

What’s next

The environmental rehabilitation work on the C&O Canal is still ongoing, as DC Water works to flush out the canal and assess other areas along the Potomac Interceptor to prevent future ruptures.

The takeaway

The Potomac Interceptor rupture and spill underscores the critical need to maintain and upgrade aging sewage infrastructure in the region to prevent environmental disasters and protect public health. The extensive emergency repair work required highlights the challenges utilities face in keeping these vital systems functioning.