DC Water

Potomac River Suffers Massive Sewage Spill

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Large pipe spilling sewage into Potomac River with warning signs and caution tape.

CLIFF NOTES A 72-inch sewer pipe in Montgomery County, Maryland, ruptured on January 19, 2026, spilling about 40 million gallons of sewage daily into the Potomac River. The spill occurred near Clara Barton Parkway and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, upstream from Washington, D.C. DC Water is installing pumps to divert sewage from … Read more

URGENT: Boil Water Alert for Residents in Washington, D.C.

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Alert Boil Water Notice in Washington, D.C. with a steaming pot in the foreground.

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) issued a Boil Water Advisory today after a 20-inch water main broke in Upper Northwest D.C. on Wednesday, May 8, affecting water pressure for 4,800 customers. DC Water considers this advisory a precaution for customers in the impacted area due to water of unknown quality … Read more