2026-02-14

STATEMENT FROM COMMODORE LYNN DURBIN
REGARDING THE RECENT SEWAGE SPILL IN THE POTOMAC RIVER
AND IT'S IMPACT ON SCOW ACTIVITIES

As you are aware, there was a massive raw sewage spill into the Potomac River, resulting in high levels of E coli and MRSA in the river.  While Washington, DC has diverted the spill from the river and is making repairs to the infrastructure, sewage spills into the river continue and will continue at times during the estimated 4-6 weeks the repair will take.

Additionally, neither Washington, DC, Virginia, nor the state of Maryland is monitoring the bacterial levels in the river, nor do they know how long bacterial levels will be elevated and what effect environmental conditions will have on bacterial levels.  In fact, the Virginia Department of Health waited until today to issue a recreational water advisory.

Dean Naujoks, the Potomac River Keeper, along with his team and a team from the University of Maryland have been regularly testing bacterial levels in the river and are currently our best and only resource for information.  

Because there are so many unknowns and raw sewage continues to be released in the river at times, bacterial counts will likely remain dangerously high.  As a result, Vice Commodore Brian and I have made a decision, with the approval of the Board of Directors, to suspend all on water sailing activities on the Potomac River.

In short, no one may take out a SCOW boat until such time as it is deemed safe to do so.  E coli and MRSA can make one dangerously sick, and can lead to severe complications and in rare cases, death.  

Our boat in Annapolis, Calypso, will remain available to qualified skippers.

We will continue to monitor reports from the Potomac Riverkeeper and hope that we will be able to get back to normal sailing operations as soon as bacteria levels drop into a range that is safe.

Click Here for a summary of a webinar given by the Potomac River Keeper on February 11, 2026 provided by Laura Albert. Again, it is the only information available at this time. 

Stay Tuned,
Lynn
Commodore 2026