After January’s historic sewage spill, Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) heard from scores of people who expressed concern about the safety of contact with the river. 66.4% of respondents recreate on the river (angler, swimmer, boater, paddler etc.), and the balance were concerned citizens, watermen/water business owners or scientists. We at PRKN wanted to give everyone a chance to express their concerns. Our frequent water quality monitoring showed improvement, but we needed to know how deeply the community felt – so we prepared and distributed a survey to collect your thoughts. In total, 643 responses were received from March 23rd to April 20th.
At a glance:
- The top three concerns in the aftermath of the sewage spill were for wildlife and fish (86%) public health concerns (78.7%), and river safety for recreation (74.4%).
- 99% of those taking the survey felt that water quality monitoring on the Potomac River should continue through the summer.
- 40% of respondents would be comfortable being in or on the Potomac River if water quality monitoring data shows safe bacteria levels.
The top two concerns were wildlife and fish followed by public health. But, there is also clear concern for the impact on community members whose livelihoods rely on a healthy river – and the public’s perception of them. 78% of respondents think that there should be some sort of funding for watermen, charter captains, and other water based businesses impacted by the spill. 77% of respondents said they do NOT trust information provided by DC Water and 88% think they should be fined for the impacts the spill had.
Despite improving water quality results from multiple sources in the months following the spill, there are still mixed feelings about comfortability returning to recreate on the river (40% say ‘Yes’, 38% say ‘Maybe’, and 22% say ‘No’). It is clear that more needs to be done to regain public trust and confidence with the river, so it makes sense that 99% of respondents say water quality monitoring should continue through the summer. The frequency? Most would feel comfortable with at least weekly testing (56%), if not daily testing (35%). And this sentiment extends far beyond just the immediate spill site, with the large majority (77%) wanting testing to extend beyond the spill site and along DC, Maryland, and Virginia state sides.
Here are brief summaries of all information gathered from this survey:
- Need for Independent and Comprehensive Testing: Many respondents expressed a lack of trust in DC Water’s reporting (77.1%) and emphasized the necessity of independent, rigorous, and transparent testing of the water (98%) and river sediment (72.8%). Respondents recommended testing include seafood (fish/crabs) for long-term contamination, heavy metals, various bacteria (like staph and MRSA), and chemicals.
- Water Quality Monitoring: Testing should be expanded beyond the immediate spill site to include the full length of the Potomac, tributaries, and the Chesapeake Bay (77%). An additional 20.8% of respondents want water monitoring from the spill site and to include DC waters of the Potomac River.
- River Recreation Tied to Testing: A plurality of respondents (40%) are interested in recreating in or on the Potomac River if water quality monitoring data show safe bacteria levels. That willingness is tied to continued testing…99% of respondents say water quality monitoring should continue through the summer on a daily or weekly basis (91%), especially after storm events that stir up sediment.
- Long-Term Environmental and Public Health Concerns: Major concerns include the long-term ecological impact on wildlife (ospreys, turtles, fish, crabs) and the ecosystem, the safety of consuming locally caught seafood, and health risks for people and pets using water-adjacent trails or recreating in the river (especially as water temperatures rise). There is a call for clear, widespread public warnings about water quality, especially for those fishing.
- Transparency and Communication: Many feel DC Water and government agencies were untruthful, lacked transparency, and were slow to communicate accurate information to the public and the media. Respondents recommended better education to counter public misinformation that has harmed local businesses.
- Accountability and Infrastructure Repair: There is significant concern about holding DC Water and associated government officials accountable for the spill (88.8%), which many view as foreseeable and inexcusable due to neglected maintenance and slow response. Respondents strongly urge an overhaul and upgrade of the aging wastewater infrastructure across DC, Maryland, and Virginia to prevent future failures, and suggest that fines should be used for remediation of the Potomac River (92.8%).
Photo Credit: Burton Gray (1/20/26)
