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Snow and Then A Spill!

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3496 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/20/2026 : 22:35:49

The good news: Temps have warmed a bit but we do have about 3-4" snow predicted this Sunday. New York and New England area will have more. Okay,,,,it's winter!

But we have a hazardous thing that occurred: A 72" sewage pipe broke and millions of gallons spilled into the Potomac River on the Maryland side, just north of the Md/DC border. The spillage into the Potomac occurred first week of February. News reports indicate it is supposedly the worst contaminated (Ecoli) spillage in American history? But to put that in perspective, it has been reported that it represents about 2% of the Potomac River water flow. They have since been able to divert the water, I guess back to the water treatment plant. But the permanent fix will take many months. Another factoid I read was that the river water in the DC area takes about 3 weeks to pass out of that area. I suspect most of it passes faster but the residual streams , etc is what adds to that time period. Ecoli counts will diminish with time - Especially the super high counts but not sure how long to get down from there.

Ecoli readings are sky high in the Potomac River near where the spill occurred and in the DC area including the Washington Channel (near where I used to keep my boat), Drinking water is okay since what comes from the Potomac is about 2-3 mies up river from the spill...(and then goes to water treatment plants).

Heading south on the river to National Harbor which is just past the RT495 (Beltway) Wilson Bridge, Ecoli readings are just above or around the safe limit. Heading further south down to where I keep my boat in Quantico, presently there is only trace effects from the contamination probably due to the dilution and various tributaries that also feed into the Potomac. However, Virginia and Maryland have precautionary restrictions in place that extend way further down to the RT301 Bridge which is about 20+ miles from Quantico - No fishing, bathing (though no one doing that at this time of the year), canoeing or kayaking where there is likely to be water contact. This is in affect for at least another few weeks at which time they will re-evaluate.

Those in the DC area, I doubt anyone would be allowed boating, though, very few go out this time of year. Tourists that visit DC, some visit the restaurants, etc in the DC area and down in the old town area of Virginia that are near the river and some of those businesses may be affected at least for the next few weeks.

Then I heard on the news which was not mentioned connected to the above issue but kind of ironic - Apparently, the Tidal Basin area in DC which is nationwide famous for the Cherry trees that surround the Tidal Basin, just received a shipment of Cherry Trees, apparently they picked this time of year, this year, to renovate that area. (I think the Cherry trees blossom end of March or thereabouts.)

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 02/20/2026 22:37:33

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5446 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2026 : 08:03:55

Holy crap! Yes, pun intended, but this is truly a disaster. Isn�t that the real job of government? Paving the streets, running the schools, collecting garbage, and managing the sewage?

I wondered about the tidal flow of the river down below the Great Falls, and the rapids just above the Memorial Bridge. Tidal rivers don�t flush very quickly because of the up and down movement of the tides, so it�s not surprising that it could take weeks to clear out the muck.

President and Mrs Lincoln lost their son Willie to typhoid fever due to sewage mixing into drinking water supplying the White House.

Let�s hope they can manage the spill from here on out.

Nice to hear about the cherry trees. They recommend that you plant trees in the late fall or early spring to allow them to become established before the heat of the summer. The blossoms are very beautiful in April.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - Voyager on 02/21/2026 08:07:24

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3496 Posts

Response Posted - 02/22/2026 : 07:08:20

We have about 3 foot difference in tide but that is probably less up where this spill occurred and I am not sure about the water dynamics - I suspect the tide, especially up where the spill occurred, rises as the water flow downstream slows but believe the flow does not actually reverse, at least not so far upstream. There is brackish water etc affects from seawater coming up the river but much further down river. Where this spill occurs must be over 100 miles from where the Potomac River enters the Chesapeake Bay. Anyway, all the municipalities/govt sources have indicated it does not pose an issue regarding drinking water. I know Virginia gets drinking water for Northern VA from two main sources before going to treatment plants - Potomac River, a few miles north of the spill and also from the Occuquan Reservoir as well as other reservoirs (ie. In Manassas), not that near the Potomac River.

As far as who is responsible for this fiasco - Well, the pipe is 60 years old and while the blame game is somewhat playing out as it usually does in these instances, the Fed Govt has indicated if they are asked nicely, they will step in. But I also read that this p[ipe is either owned by the Federal govt or is on fed land....which is not necessarily surprising since there are many areas in around the vicinity that have a federal presence. Anyway, during winter especially, pipe breaks/leaks etc occur and this one unfortunately has hazards associated with it potentaially affecting many in one way or another. I also read that MD and VA will play a major role squaring this away and in the past when issues affect the general area, despite what makes headlines, MD/DC/VA/Fed Govt usually work pretty well together.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 02/22/2026 07:12:36

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.