Water Quality in the Potomac River: Sewage Cleanup Letter

Dear Calleva Community,

Ashley McEwan here. I’m the Calleva River School Director and an avid paddler on the Potomac River. I know that many of you, like me, have been following the twists and turns of the DC Water’s Potomac Interceptor sewage break since January 19th ⎯  the over 200 million gallons of untreated waste were released into the Potomac; the temporary “fix” of rerouting the sewage into the C&O Canal; the subsequent re-contamination of the river via a leaking aqueduct; and the high levels of E. Coli tested in the river at various sites below the spill. It has been a trying time for all of us in the river community who care deeply about the wildlife and ecology of our river. 

Finally some good news! 

• The Potomac Interceptor pipe has been repaired as of March 14th. 
• Montgomery County has lifted its ban on recreational use on much of the Potomac River including the Feeder Canal and Little Falls.
• The section of the river below the Little Falls dam and at Lock 6 has been testing in the safe to use range since February 18. 
• Testing of E.Coli in surface water near the break (Swainson Island near Lock 10) since the repair has been below the cut-off for E.Coli for recreational use of the river.  

We are monitoring the situation closely and are in communication with other paddling organizations, including Potomac Whitewater Racing Center and the Washington Canoe Club, who are using the river for training again. 

What does this mean for our community?

The River School is clearing use of the Potomac at Lock 6 and Little Falls. We are looking to get on the river at Lock 10 and Sycamore Island within a week, after following the data through the higher water event that we currently have. 

Riley’s Lock, Madeira, Camp Fraser, and Angler’s Inn locations have not been affected by the spill as they are located upstream. Calleva Camps at these locations have not been impacted.

The decision to paddle downstream of the spill is every paddler’s to make. At Calleva, we have decided to review current water quality data at the links below to help make informed decisions and to be flexible to changing locations if needed. I appreciate your support, appropriate outrage, and coalescence that has taken place since the spill.

Resources:

Information on ongoing water quality testing and public outreach is available through the following sources:

DC Water: https://www.dcwater.com/about-dc-water/media/potomac-interceptor-collapse
DC Dept. of Energy and the Environment (DOEE): https://doee.dc.gov/node/1817721
Potomac Riverkeeper Network: https://potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/

Please reach out to me (riverschool@calleva.org) with any questions. We will continue to provide updates as needed.

All the best!
Ashley McEwan
Calleva River School Director