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Fairfax County is urging residents to throw all wipes in the trash after clogged pumps triggered another major wastewater overflow into the Potomac River during repairs to a collapsed regional sewer line.
The warning applies even to products labeled “flushable.” Unlike toilet paper, most wipes do not break apart in sewer systems and can collect inside pumps and pipes, reducing capacity when the damaged system is already vulnerable.
The crisis began Jan. 19, when the 54-mile Potomac Interceptor collapsed near Clara Barton Parkway in Montgomery County, Maryland. The pipeline carries sewage from Northern Virginia, including parts of Fairfax County, to a treatment plant in Washington, D.C.
More than 200 million gallons of wastewater subsequently entered the Potomac, according to DC Water.
Crews installed bypass pumps to redirect overflowing sewage from the river to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. But during the high-flow period on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 8, non-disposable wipes clogged several pumps. The resulting “significant” overflow sent several hundred thousand additional gallons of wastewater into the river.
Wastewater flushed in Fairfax County can affect downstream equipment and waterways because the regional system crosses jurisdictional boundaries. County officials are asking residents to flush only human waste and toilet paper and to place every type of wipe in the trash.
As of Tuesday, Feb. 17, DC Water expected an enhanced bypass system using seven high-capacity pumps to be fully operational by the end of the week. Once running, the system would allow crews to assess the interceptor’s damage fully and begin repairs.
Emergency work is expected to take another four to six weeks. A broader rehabilitation project could then require nine to 10 months.
Health advisory covers 72.5 miles
The collapse occurred downstream from Fairfax County and does not threaten the county’s drinking water supply. However, elevated E. coli levels prompted the Virginia Department of Health to issue an advisory Friday, Feb. 13, warning people to avoid contact with contaminated river water.
The advisory covers 72.5 miles, stretching from the American Legion Memorial Bridge on Interstate 495 in Fairfax County to the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge on Route 301 in King George County.
Health officials recommend avoiding swimming, wading, kayaking and other recreational activities in the affected waters.
Water with discoloration, a foul smell, or dead or dying fish nearby should be treated as potentially contaminated. Anyone who touches it should promptly wash exposed skin with soap and water and rinse any clothing, fishing equipment or other items that contacted the river.
People who develop health problems after exposure should seek medical care and tell their practitioner about the contact with the waterway.
Bacteria levels remain far above swimming threshold
DC Water said E. coli concentrations have fallen since the spill began but remain extremely high near Swainson Island, across the Potomac from McLean.
Tests initially recorded 570,000 bacteria per 100 milliliters at the overflow site. A sample collected Monday, Feb. 16, measured 173,000 per 100 milliliters.
That remains far above the threshold of 410 per 100 milliliters at which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and public health authorities recommend against swimming.
Historically, E. coli concentrations in the Potomac have generally ranged from 10 to 5,000 per 100 milliliters, depending on weather, sewer infrastructure and other conditions. Virginia health officials plan to post continuing updates about the spill response on the department’s website.