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Dear WCC Members,
As you are undoubtedly aware, DC Water’s Potomac Interceptor sewage line (located in Montgomery County, MD) suffered a significant break on January 19th. The break is approximately eight miles upriver from WCC. Reports by DC Water and other stakeholder groups indicate that several hundred million gallons of untreated waste were released into the Potomac before the situation was brought under control. Virginia, D.C. and Montgomery County have all issued alerts advising against recreational use of the river
Early water testing indicated that pollution levels (E. Coli) near the point of the break were (and remain) thousands of times higher than acceptable for recreational use. Thankfully, the situation for the tidal Potomac, the portion of the river below Little Falls and Chain Bridge and where WCC is located, has been very different. By the first week of February, water quality testing for our portion of the river showed E. Coli levels well within EPA guidelines and falling. Current levels, as of February 16th, show water quality in-line with what we would normally expect to see year-round. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Information on ongoing water quality testing, Potomac Interceptor repair efforts 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/
Local advisories are linked here: Virginia, DC, Montgomery County.
As air temperatures rise and the ice covering the river breaks up, WCC anticipates that members will return to paddling and may look to the club to provide guidance on whether it’s safe to do so. The club has no restrictions on paddling at this time and advises all members to review current water quality data at the links above to help make informed decisions about when it is safe to paddle. Please note that due to ongoing construction at the club, water is not currently available for rinsing boats or showering. (Rinsing with soap and water is a solid defense against E. Coli; with hand sanitizer somewhat less effective)
Please reach out to the Board (board@washingtoncanoeclub.org) with any questions. WCC is working closely with stakeholder groups like Potomac Riverkeeper Network to serve as a sampling site for water quality testing and we have been actively engaged with DC’s DOEE. We will continue to provide updates to members as needed.
Stay safe,
Washington Canoe Club Board of Governors
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