Maryland and Virginia officials have lifted some advisories recommending against Potomac River recreation following January’s massive sewage leak.
The Maryland Department of Health said Thursday that the Prince George’s County and Charles County health departments were rescinding their Jan. 25 recommendations to avoid recreation announced in the aftermath of Jan. 19 sewage spill that sent 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River.
The Jan. 19 collapse of a 6-foot-wide section of DC Water’s Potomac Interceptor pipeline happened in Montgomery County near the Clara Barton Parkway in Glen Echo.
While water sampling in Prince George’s and Charles counties showed the river water is now safe there, the Montgomery County advisory put in place on Jan. 29 is still in effect because sampling shows levels of bacteria including E. coli that are too high for safe recreational activity, Maryland state health officials said.
The Virginia Department of Health said Thursday that it was lifting part of its Feb. 13 advisory. The section of river between the Chain Bridge connecting Arlington County and the District and the Gov. Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge on U.S. Route 301 is now considered safe for recreation.
But the advisory will remain for the Potomac between the Chain Bridge and the American Legion Memorial Bridge on the Capital Beltway.
D.C. officials lifted their advisory Monday.
