Environment & Climate

Montgomery County lifts all remaining health advisories for Potomac River shoreline related to sewage spill

Health officials cleared the affected shoreline for recreational use after testing showed bacteria levels had dropped to acceptable levels

Thomas Robertson - WTOP

August 3, 2026 10:26 a.m.

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Creek where wastewater from the Potomac Interceptor sewer line reached fed into the Potomac River. Photo credit: Elia Griffin

Officials in Montgomery County, Maryland, lifted all its remaining health advisories for the Potomac River shoreline and river sediment that had been in effect since the failure of the Potomac Interceptor, which sent hundreds of millions of gallons of wastewater into the river.

Among the advisories lifted Friday is the contact advisory for the shoreline and river sediment between Lock 11 and the shoreline surrounding Minnie’s Island, and residents may resume recreational use of the area, Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Kisha Davis said in a statement.

According to Davis, sediment testing in these areas has shown bacterial concentrations have returned to acceptable levels.

As always, officials still recommend against ingesting any water from the Potomac River.

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine