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2026-02-16 Government Corruption

Jan 2026 Potomac Sewage Spill Now Worst in US History

[TheHill] A wastewater spill into the Potomac River that began last month now appears to be one of the largest in American history.

DC Water, a local water utility, said in a press release last week that part of a sewer system known as the Potomac Interceptor collapsed along the Clara Barton Parkway on Jan. 19. In that same release, the utility said it "estimates that approximately 243 million gallons of wastewater has overflowed from the collapse site." # id) ?>

Posted by Lord Garth 2026-02-16 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1832 views ] Top

1 That stinks.

Posted by Skidmark 2026-02-16 00:21|| 2026-02-16 00:21|| Front Page Top

2 Worse than K Street ?

Posted by Besoeker 2026-02-16 01:33|| 2026-02-16 01:33|| Front Page Top

3 How can they tell?

The Potomac River has always been polluted, in fact IIRC, fishing had been banned on the Potomac for quite a while.

Posted by Cromoting Mussolini1758 2026-02-16 03:47|| 2026-02-16 03:47|| Front Page Top

4 So, how does this affect the Chesapeake Bay blue crab season?

Posted by ed in texas 2026-02-16 08:54|| 2026-02-16 08:54|| Front Page Top

5 DC Water describes the planning underway to upgrade the now-failed sewer -
Built over 60 years ago, this 54-mile sewer pipeline is aging, and the section that crosses under the river is nearly 3,000 feet long and 78 inches wide. If it fails, the consequences for public health and the environment would be enormous. Planning is now underway to rehabilitate this section before its condition deteriorates further.

Posted by Bobby 2026-02-16 09:10|| 2026-02-16 09:10|| Front Page Top

6 previous record was in 2017 at the TX-MX border at 230 million gallons

others estimate the Potomac spill at 300 million gallons

There is an intake about 5 miles upstream of the spill site so that will provide water until the spill is cleared (maybe a year from now). Plenty of intake for winter but summer may present a problem.

Posted by Lord Garth 2026-02-16 09:59|| 2026-02-16 09:59|| Front Page Top

7

Did Congress take a bath?

Posted by NN2N1 2026-02-16 11:24|| 2026-02-16 11:24|| Front Page Top

8 That's what happens when the budget shuts down.
All the shit backs up.

Posted by Skidmark 2026-02-16 11:33|| 2026-02-16 11:33|| Front Page Top

9 Were paddles made available?

Posted by Super Hose 2026-02-16 12:04|| 2026-02-16 12:04|| Front Page Top

10 #9 Were paddles made available?

Pete ButtGig: "Oooh Oooh! Do Me first!"

Posted by Frank G 2026-02-16 12:37|| 2026-02-16 12:37|| Front Page Top

11 I'd be willing to bet the effect of a one-time failure like this is nowhere near as bad as the cumulative effect of the constant, chronic leakage at Tijuana.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2026-02-16 13:58|| 2026-02-16 13:58|| Front Page Top

12 ref # 3 above

Growing up in the DC area 1947-1962, my family always enjoyed three Potomac River events, the Tidal Basin walks amidst the Cherry Blossom Festival, picnicking in East Potomac Park to watch the hydroplane races in the President's Cup Regatta, and sitting on the steps alongside Memorial Bridge to hear the Marine Corps Band play on a moored barge with a concert shell as we watched to fireworks on July 4th over the river. Nothing like raw sewage was ever a concern.
A better time for sure...

Posted by NoMoreBS 2026-02-16 15:34|| 2026-02-16 15:34|| Front Page Top

13 #3 I remember my dad dragging us to Carter’s inauguration and seeing cardboard boxes and dead fish in that river, but thought they’d cleaned it up

Posted by Beavis 2026-02-16 16:00|| 2026-02-16 16:00|| Front Page Top

Merry-Go-Blog