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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District's Washington Aqueduct operates two Potomac River intake facilities at Great Falls and Little Falls, Maryland, to supply drinking water to the Washington region. Following the Jan. 19 Potomac Interceptor sewer line collapse, the utility immediately closed its Little Falls Pumping Station intakes while continuing operations at the upstream Great Falls facility, which remains unaffected by the downstream sewage overflow. The Great Falls intake's gravity-fed design ensures continuous operation without electricity—a critical capability during winter storm Fern—while ice-eaters prevent freezing in the intakes. Raw water from Great Falls flows to Dalecarlia Reservoir and undergoes full conventional treatment at Dalecarlia Water Treatment Plant before distribution to DC Water, Arlington County, and Fairfax Water. Washington Aqueduct staff will remain on-site during the storm to maintain water quality testing and treatment operations, ensuring no disruption to the region's safe drinking water supply.
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2026 |
| Published: | 01-29-26 01:21 PM |
| Graphic ID: | 40807 |
| VIRIN: | 260129-A-ZT698-1594 |
| Size: | 3.86 MB |
| Location: | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 2 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Washington Aqueduct implements water supply protection measures following Potomac Interceptor sewage spill; no impact on drinking water, by Christopher Rosario, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
