The health department in Washington, D.C., lifted its recreational advisory for the Potomac River on Monday, after millions of gallons of raw sewage contaminated it in January.
The announcement allows residents to engage in recreational activities, such as fishing, now that the river’s bacterial levels are within safe ranges. Swimming, however, remains strictly prohibited without a special permit.
“Protecting the health and safety of District residents is our top priority,” said Dr. Ayanna Bennett, director of the health department. “After careful review of the last three weeks of water quality data, we are confident that conditions in the District’s portion of the Potomac River no longer pose an elevated public health risk. This advisory applies only to waters within the District of Columbia, and we encourage residents to follow guidance from neighboring jurisdictions for areas outside the District’s boundaries.”
Monday marks 21 days since the last sewage overflow, according to the department.
The sewage spill began when the Potomac Interceptor sewer line in Maryland collapsed on Jan. 19, releasing more than 240 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Potomac River. As a result, E. coli levels were dangerously high for human contact. Drinking water was not affected, though.
The episode caused quite a stir between President Donald Trump and Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) over who held responsibility for cleaning up one of the largest wastewater spills in U.S. history.
Despite heated disagreement between the leaders, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency collaborated with state and local partners.
Unlike Moore, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was more willing to cooperate with the Trump administration. After Trump called on her to take action, she requested federal emergency assistance, which the president approved.
TRUMP APPROVES EMERGENCY DECLARATION FOR DC OVER POTOMAC SEWAGE SPILL
Bowser also asked for a full reimbursement for costs incurred by the District of Columbia and DC Water so that residents who pay for the public utility don’t have to bear the emergency costs. Repairs on the ruptured Potomac Interceptor system are expected to be completed later this month.
The D.C. Council questioned representatives of DC Water on Monday about how the sewage spill came to contaminate the Potomac River. During the hearing, DC Water CEO David Gadis said his company did not think the sewage pipe was in imminent threat of collapse when its last inspection occurred in October 2024.
