Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman John Joyce, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, announced on May 14 a hearing titled ‘Corrosion, Collapse, and Clean-Up: Examining the Potomac Interceptor Collapse.’
The committee has been investigating since February to understand what led to DC Water’s Potomac Interceptor collapse, which resulted in one of the largest sewage spills in American history. Chairmen Guthrie and Joyce said, “Since launching our investigation in February, the Committee has been working to understand what led to DC Water’s Potomac Interceptor collapse that caused one of the largest sewage spills in American history. The resilience of our wastewater infrastructure systems remains critical to protecting the health and safety of our communities, including safe drinking water and the environment. This hearing will help to understand what was known about the condition of the Potomac Interceptor prior to this incident, the emergency response and cleanup efforts that have been underway since the collapse, and how future incidents may be prevented.”
The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold its hearing on Wednesday, May 20 at 10:15 AM ET in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The event is open to both public and press attendees and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov.
Edward Wenschhof, Acting Superintendent for Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park with the National Park Service at the U.S. Department of the Interior, provided testimony regarding both immediate actions taken after notification of an active sewage overflow within park boundaries near Interstate-495 in Montgomery County on January 19 as well as ongoing remediation efforts. According to Wenschhof’s testimony before the subcommittee: “The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (Park) contains within its legislated boundary a significant stretch of the Potomac Interceptor… On January 19, 2026, Park staff received notification of an active sewage overflow within Park boundaries near the Interstate-495 crossing in Montgomery County… To mitigate further impacts, NPS permitted DC Water to use a section of C&O Canal to bypass… DC Water completed temporary repairs… returned full wastewater flow… March 14.” He continued by outlining collaborative remediation involving multiple agencies across four defined areas; three are complete while work continues in one area.
Wenschhof said that once remediation is complete NPS will work with DC Water on long-term restoration including replanting vegetation as well as restoring a threatened plant species. For resources that cannot be restored NPS can seek response costs under federal law.
More information about this hearing is available from the organization’s press release.
