Next Meeting: TUESDAY, February 10, 2026 at 7:15 p.m.
IN-PERSON AT THE POTOMAC LIBRARY!
SPEAKER: Timothy Whitehouse, Executive Director, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)
PFAS (“forever chemicals”) contaminate the drinking water of millions of people. Studies detect these compounds in about 45% of U.S. tap water. Linked to serious health risks including cancer, liver damage, and thyroid disease, the EPA has finalized regulations to limit six types of PFAS by 2029. Key sources include industrial sites, landfills, and firefighting foam. Exposure is linked to cancer (kidney, testicular), increased cholesterol, liver damage, thyroid disease, and developmental delays in children according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). PFAS enter water systems from industrial manufacturing, firefighting foam at airports/military bases, and wastewater treatment plants. In 2024, the EPA set legal limits for specific PFAS in drinking water, requiring public water systems to monitor and reduce levels by 2029.
Tim Whitehouse is PEER’s Executive Director. Tim has more than 30 years of experience working on environmental issues with governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community groups. Prior to joining PEER, he was a senior attorney at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and was head of the Law and Policy Program at the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation in Montreal, Canada. He has worked as a consultant for companies on environmental compliance issues, and with nonprofits focusing on clean energy issues.
Tim will tell us more about PFAS in our drinking water. He’ll also explain why PEER and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network are suing the EPA over PFAS in sewage sludge used as fertilizer. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear directly from the head of PEER about the existence of PFAS in our water and the lawsuit against the EPA over fertilizer with sewage sludge.
As always, the public is welcome to attend!
Potomac Sewage Spill – Largest in US History – Could Have Been Avoided
President’s Letter by Carol Van Dam Falk
The largest raw sewage spill in US history happened right in our backyard on January 19th when a 6-foot diameter sewer pipe erupted in the Historic C&O Canal near Lock 10 and Cabin John. It took more than 9 days for DC Water, which is responsible for this disaster, to capture the sewage and channel it back into the Potomac Interceptor. All of the sewage comes from Northern Virginia to Maryland. While it’s true crews worked in freezing temperatures and faced weather challenges including the recent snowstorm, this disaster could have been prevented. DC Water, which owns and operates the Potomac Interceptor, knew it had aging infrastructure and that the pipes in our area were particularly vulnerable. They should have been replaced years ago. In fiscal year 2023, DC Water reported approximately $800 million in operating revenue. It has the money to reinvest in capital projects like this.
I called DC Water every day since this catastrophe began and did not get a return call until several days later. The communications specialist I initially spoke to for three straight days had no idea what was happening. One week later, John Lisle, DC Water’s VP of Marketing and Communications, returned my call on January 27th to say a bypass was in place and that the flow of raw sewage was down from 60 million gallons a day to 40 million. By the ninth day, he told me crews were finally able to capture most of the sewage spill. However, on Friday, January 30th, Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks told me sewage is still flowing into the C&O National Park.
Mr. Lisle told me crews have been working relentlessly to capture the sewage into the C&O Canal, where it was being diverted into six pumps that each handle millions of gallons a day, and that two larger pumps were installed this past week, each handling 13 million gallons per day. He said improvement work on the 50-60 year old Interceptor is on the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) project list and that $625 million is earmarked for rehabbing the 54-mile long Interceptor pipeline.
Potomac Riverkeeper is a branch of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, a regional membership organization working to stop pollution and restore clean water. Mr. Naujoks told me that he and a colleague took water samples on Friday, January 23rd at the site of the spill. What they found was much worse than previously anticipated. Read the press release.
“Our sample data collected right at the sewage outflow revealed shockingly high numbers that could have long term impacts to water quality (testing data revealed E.coli levels were 60 times higher than the 410 MPN* standard). The vile and putrid smell from the torrent of sewage discharging to the Potomac River for eight straight days is one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen in 25 years as a Riverkeeper,” said Naujoks. Potomac Riverkeeper Network President Betsy Nicholas said the samples taken show pollutants nearly 12,000 times above what authorities with the VA Department of Environmental Quality and the MD Department of the Environment consider to be safe for human contact.
*Most Probable Number
While we’re relieved the flow of sewage has been reduced, the potential health risks and long-term impacts to the river cannot be overstated. After waiting 25 minutes on the line on January 27th for someone at the Montgomery County Health Department to pick up, I finally emailed Director Dr. James Bridgers, asking when or if he sent any staff to collect water samples either at the site or downstream, whether they have alerted the public to the dangers of the contaminated water, and whether they were in regular communication with DC Water about overhauling the Potomac Interceptor. I have yet to hear back. Dean tells me he’s seen no County health officials or MD Department of the Environment (DOE) staffers at the site since this disaster began. I have contacted MD Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Chris Van Hollen to say the response to this spill has been unacceptable, but also to lodge a complaint about DC Water’s failure to maintain their infrastructure. Raskin’s office returned my call, saying they are aware of the spill, monitoring it, and share my concerns.
Simply put, I am outraged that both MoCo Department of Health and Maryland’s DOE have failed to track the damage done. It is not the Potomac Riverkeeper’s job to take real-time test samples of the river. Raw sewage is not only harmful to humans, it can also harm the environment through excessive nutrients, toxic contaminants such as E.Coli, and disease exposure. According to Dean, it can lead to dead zones in the river, harmful algae blooms, and fish kills. We will stay on top of this.
Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks will be our Speaker for the March 10th General Meeting.
We hope you join us!
Forest Conservation Plan (FCP) – Chaberton Solar Victoria II LLC – Mandatory Referral
Submitted by Ginny Barnes
On Thursday January 29th, this issue came before the Planning Board (PB). The solar project itself is a mandatory referral (meaning the PB input is advisory) but the FCP is not. The State of Maryland passed a bill last year that essentially gives citizens no say in the placement of these facilities. This proposal consists of 2 projects in the middle of a large lot, residential zoned neighborhood across from Bretton Woods on River Road. The neighbors were well prepared with comments on an existing small facility Chaberton has already sold, called Santa Rosa. This solar array has not proven a good neighbor and what is proposed now only amplifies community fears. Neighbors testified Santa Rosa has created innumerable problems they hoped to avoid. We supported their comments and testified that the terms and conditions of the FCP were too minimal to protect water quality from stormwater runoff, especially on such steep slopes. The proposed buffer to an existing stream that bisects one parcel is not nearly wide enough. We believe neither project belongs on the sites intended. The PB voted 4-1 to allow them to go forward with only minimal additions to accommodate pollinators beneath the raised panels through enhanced wildflower and native plant seedings.
Public Hearing Updates and Featured News
Submitted by Theodora Scarato
February 24, 2026 Public Hearings on Two Data Center Bills:
ZTA 26-01 would limit data centers to industrial zones, put in 500-foot setbacks from homes and address concerns such as loud generators.
Bill 4 26 would set up a task force to get community input and issue a report within one year.
Data Center Community Forum:
Residents are invited to the Data Center Legislation and Policies Community Forum hosted by County Executive Marc Elrich and Councilmembers on Tuesday, February 3rd, from 7-9 p.m. at the Leggett Executive Office Building Auditorium, with virtual participation available.
WMCCA Featured in the News:
Inside Towers article “FCC’s Proposal to Simplify Wireless Infrastructure Deployment Draws 3,550+ Comments” featuring WMCCA’s letter recommending the FCC preserve local control for cell towers.
IN-PERSON WMCCA Meeting February 10, 2026 – 7:15 p.m.
West Montgomery County Citizens Association Newsletter
P.O. Box 59335, Potomac, MD 20854-9335
President – Carol Van Dam Falk: President@WMCCA.org
Website: WMCCA.org – Thomas Fahey
Newsletter Editor – Nancy Madden
West Montgomery County Citizens Association 