Near Sewer Collapse Repairs, Potomac Riverkeepers Say High E. Coli Found in Creek that Flows Into Potomac

Riverkeeper Flags Ongoing Fecal Pollution in Potomac Tributary

The Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) released findings March 9, 2026, indicating potential ongoing leakage of sewage-contaminated water from a culvert beneath the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal into an unnamed tributary of the Potomac River, amid DC Water’s bypass operation diverting raw sewage through the canal due to the Potomac Interceptor failure. PRKN staff conducted sampling over two weeks at four locations along the unnamed tributary, wh…

Near sewer collapse repairs, Potomac Riverkeepers say high E. coli found in creek that flows into Potomac

Potomac Riverkeeper Network testing water in culvert, near sewage spill(Alan Lehman) Potomac Riverkeeper Network testing water in culvert, near sewage spill(Alan Lehman) The Potomac Riverkeeper Network says sewage carrying dangerous levels of E. coli is leaking from a C&O Canal bypass system established during emergency repairs of the collapsed Potomac Interceptor sewer line. Betsy Nicholas, the president of the group, said its recent testing o…

Sewage still leaking into the Potomac River from a tributary, E. coli levels show

New testing by the Potomac Riverkeeper Network suggests sewage-contaminated water may still be reaching the Potomac River through a tributary that runs beneath

Ongoing fecal contamination in Potomac River tributary, River Keeper report finds

A new report has documented ongoing fecal contamination in an unnamed tributary of the Potomac River as it passes through a culvert beneath the C&O Canal.