WASHINGTON -- Washington Aqueduct crews have deployed absorbent boom at Potomac River water intakes to protect equipment and regional water supply after a tanker truck crashed into a bridge in McLean, Virginia, early this morning, causing a fuel spill along Difficult Run River.
Absorbent booms are cylindrical barriers designed to contain and absorb oil on the water’s surface. They prevent the spread of oil and facilitate its collection.
A division of the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Washington Aqueduct operates two intake facilities on the Potomac River at Great Falls and Little Falls, Maryland. Preliminary modeling provided by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin predicts fuel will reach Little Falls Pump Station on April 3 at 6 p.m. and clear the area by 11 p.m. All operations will come through the Great Falls facility.
No impact to Washington Aqueduct operations, or the region’s water supply, is expected.
A division of the Baltimore District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Washington Aqueduct is a federally owned and operated public water supply agency that produces an average of 150 million gallons of water per day at two treatment plants located in the District of Columbia.
The Aqueduct collects, purifies and pumps drinking water from a sole source – the Potomac River – for its three wholesale customers: DC Water, Arlington County and Fairfax Water.
Additional Information
Baltimore District delivers vital engineering solutions in collaboration with its partners to serve and strengthen the Nation, energize the economy, and reduce disaster risks. Headquartered near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Baltimore District provides design, engineering, construction, environmental, and real estate expertise to various important projects and customers. This support spans five states, the District of Columbia, overseas, and the Susquehanna, Potomac, and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. These civil and military missions and diverse engineering services support communities and warfighters while addressing the ever-growing list of emerging national security requirements and ultimately protecting the Nation.