D.C. health officials are lifting a recreational advisory on the Potomac River, citing an improvement in water quality after a sewage line collapsed in January.
D.C. health officials are lifting a recreational advisory on the Potomac River, citing an improvement in water quality after a sewage line collapsed in January.
A section of the Potomac Interceptor collapsed on Jan. 19, spilling millions of gallons of untreated wastewater into the river.
D.C. Health lifted the advisory Monday and said testing showed bacterial levels are within safe ranges for recreation.
D.C. Water, which operates the broken pipe, has been doing daily testing of the Potomac River for bacteria since Jan. 29.
According to D.C. Health, E. coli levels have stayed within a normal range for the past 21 days and met standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Swimming isn’t allowed in the Potomac, unless you’re given special permission. But health officials had warned people to avoid contact with the water, and take special care with activities like fishing nearby the spill.
Officials have said the quality of drinking water was not impacted by the collapse.
This is a developing story. Stick with WTOP for the latest.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
About the Author
Discover more from USA NEWS
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
