Montgomery County has lifted its recreational advisory for the Potomac River downstream of Lock 8 in Cabin John, meaning paddlers and boaters can get back on the water in that stretch.
An advisory remains in effect closer to the spill site, near Swainson Island and the shoreline between Swainson Island and Lock 8. All Maryland drinking water intakes are upstream and were never affected.
At Wednesday's community meeting at Walt Whitman, DC Water confirmed the emergency repair is complete and a $30 million rehab project starts this spring. But the Q&A got pointed.
The Potomac Whitewater Racing Center pushed for pathogen testing beyond E. coli for kids who train 12-14 hours a week in the river near Lock 6. Residents challenged DC Water's pipe rating system, and Brookmont community members called for funding for groups disrupted by two months of open sewage.
