A massive D.C. sewer line collapse has forced officials to weigh a potential backup plan: releasing untreated sewage into Beaverdam Creek to keep it out of Northeast D.C. neighborhoods.
WSSC Water said a controlled emergency overflow could happen due to possible heavy rainfall Thursday, at its Anacostia Wastewater Pumping Station in Capitol Heights.
The goal? Avoiding a flood of raw sewage into streets and homes after the collapse of the 108-inch Anacostia Sewer Force Main on July 20 near the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.
If flow outpaces storage and containment, WSSC Water said it may divert sewage into the creek — which feeds into the Anacostia River — as a last resort.
The pumping station handles 60 to 65 million gallons of wastewater daily from more than 100,000 homes and businesses in Maryland’s Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Normally, that wastewater moves safely through the now-damaged D.C. Water pipe toward treatment at Blue Plains.
If the overflow is triggered, signs will go up along the creek and river warning residents to avoid the water for up to 30 days.
WSSC Water said drinking water won’t be affected — the Potomac River, not the Anacostia, supplies both Maryland and D.C. taps.
WSSC Water plans to use its full 7 million gallons of on-site storage first, only overflowing if absolutely necessary. Officials said the move could also help protect the repair zone in D.C., where D.C. Water has installed temporary retaining walls.
The agency said it is coordinating with environmental and health departments on both sides of the border, and updates will be shared if an overflow begins — including start time, volume, and when it ends.
Editor’s note: This copy was updated to clarify that the damaged pipe is not a WSSC Water pipe and that the controlled emergency overflow is not a certainty.
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