Piscataway Indian Nation Responds To Potomac River Sewage Spill

WALDORF, Md. — The Piscataway Indian Nation has issued a public statement following what it described as a 300-million-gallon sewage spill into the Potomac River that began Jan. 19, 2026, after the collapse of a major sewer line in Montgomery County, raising concerns about water quality, ecosystem damage and impacts to Indigenous traditions.

The statement, signed by 29th Hereditary Chief Mark Tayac and shared on the Nation’s Facebook page, emphasizes the tribe’s long-standing connection to the river. The Nation noted that the name “Piscataway” in the Algonquin language means “people where the waters blend,” reflecting its ancestral ties to the waterway.

Tribal leaders said the spill has affected members’ ability to fish, hunt, gather traditional foods and prepare medicines and cultural items connected to the river and nearby lands. The statement says those practices have been carried out for thousands of years and remain central to the community’s way of life.

“Within our Indigenous traditional beliefs and instructions, the earth itself is our very Sacred Mother, and her waters, wherever they are found, are her sacred lifeblood,” the statement reads.

University Testing And Bacteria Levels

The Nation cited findings from the University of Maryland related to contamination levels after the spill. Referring to a Feb. 5, 2026, university release, the statement said fecal bacteria levels were measured at 2,700 times above Maryland and Virginia safety standards. It also reported E. coli levels at 4,227 times above the established limit, higher than samples taken Jan. 28. Researchers additionally identified the presence of MRSA bacteria in the river, according to the post.

The Nation stated contamination remains unsafe for miles downstream and could affect water quality more than 30 miles from the spill site, with potential impacts to shellfish harvesting extending more than 50 miles downriver.

“The preventable, and yet seemingly inevitable, 300-million-gallon sewage spill has now poisoned the waters which we all depend on, live from, and call our home,” the statement reads.

Congressional Letter And DC Water Response

The Nation acknowledged a Feb. 18, 2026, letter from members of Congress to DC Water CEO David Gaddis regarding the collapse of the Potomac Interceptor sanitary sewer line in Montgomery County. The letter outlines that the 72-inch pipe failure along Clara Barton Parkway resulted in hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated sewage entering the river before a bypass system was activated.

The Piscataway Indian Nation thanked Maryland governors and senators for echoing Indigenous concerns and those of Maryland residents in communication with DC Water leadership.

“Water is not merely a luxury or a convenience to all people, but rather the most important nutrient for life itself,” the Nation wrote in its statement.

Charles County Conditions and Local Monitoring

Charles County Commissioner Gilbert “BJ” Bowling said in a Feb. 17 Facebook post that he met with the Charles County Watermen’s Association to discuss seafood safety following the spill.

Based on current information, Bowling said waters in Charles County do not appear to be at levels that would impact harvesting and consumption. He added he will request that the Board of Commissioners send a letter to the Maryland Department of the Environment asking for biweekly water testing in Charles County to provide scientific verification of food and water health.

Sampling data shared by the Potomac Riverkeeper Network in partnership with the University of Maryland shows elevated E. coli levels closer to the spill site near Montgomery County and Washington, D.C., with lower readings reported farther downstream.

Ongoing Oversight

For ongoing updates, readers can follow statements from the Piscataway Indian Nation, the Potomac Riverkeeper Network and DC Water’s Feb. 18 status report regarding the Potomac Interceptor collapse.

For the latest information on water quality testing, cleanup progress and repair updates, residents can visit DC Water’s Potomac Interceptor Repairs page at dcwater.com and review ongoing daily updates.

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