"Approximately 243 million gallons of wastewater has overflowed from the pipe that collapsed on January 19 in Montgomery County, Md., according to a release from DC Water. That translates into 368 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of sewage. The brunt of this surge happened in the first five days, before interim bypass pumping was activated a system that reroutes sewage around the damaged section."
"The collapse occurred along the Potomac near the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. While trying to repair the collapse, DC Water found a large rock dam blocking the sewer pipe. Removing the boulders and large rocks will require heavy machinery, manual labor and additional equipment coming in from Florida and Texas, it said. This process is estimated to take four to six weeks."
A sewer pipe collapsed January 19 in Montgomery County, Md., discharging approximately 243 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River, roughly 368 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The largest surge occurred in the first five days before interim bypass pumping rerouted sewage around the damaged section. Analysis indicates peak wastewater discharge of about 40 million gallons per day, roughly 2% of the Potomac’s flow at that time. Repair crews discovered a large rock dam blocking the ruptured pipe. Removing boulders will require heavy machinery, manual labor and equipment arriving from Florida and Texas, a process estimated to take four to six weeks. Residual risk of minimal additional overflows remains while full repairs await damage assessment.
Read at www.npr.org
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