Potomac residents can return to Minnie's Island for the first time since January, after Montgomery County lifted the last health advisory tied to the massive Potomac Interceptor sewage spill.

But reopening isn't enough.

Joseph Saliunas, board president of the Minnie's Island Community Conservancy, announced the reopening on Tuesday, Aug. 4, and called on county and DC Water officials to invest in aging sewer infrastructure so the six-month shutdown doesn't repeat itself.

"We hope that our public leaders learn from this experience and that they support needed infrastructure improvements that can prevent events like this from happening in the future," Saliunas said.

What happened

A 72-inch section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line collapsed along the Clara Barton Parkway near Lock 10 on the evening of Jan. 19, spilling more than 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River. The line carries roughly 60 million gallons of sewage daily. Health advisories kept residents off the shoreline for more than six months.

Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Kisha Davis lifted the final contact advisory on Friday, July 31, covering the stretch between Lock 11 and Minnie's Island. Maryland Department of the Environment sediment testing confirmed bacterial concentrations had returned to acceptable levels.

Repairs underway, but not finished

DC Water has a $625 million, 10-year Potomac Interceptor Rehabilitation Program underway. The utility completed its first emergency repair project, a 600-foot section at Dulles International Airport, on July 30.

At Pennyfield Lock in Potomac, the site closest to Minnie's Island, DC Water finished the first major step on July 27: crews installed a new geopolymer lining inside a 175-foot section of pipe. The next phase, installing a new pipe inside the existing one with a projected lifespan of 50 to 75 years, is expected to begin in late August.

DC Water Interim CEO Matthew Brown said July 27 that the Pennyfield Lock work "will strengthen a critical sewer line, reduce risk for nearby communities and help protect the Potomac River."

What residents should know

County health officials said water monitoring will continue. Residents should avoid swallowing river water and exercise extra caution for 48 to 72 hours after heavy rainfall, when bacteria levels can spike. People with open cuts or wounds should avoid contact with river water or sediment.

Saliunas struck an optimistic note about the island's recovery, saying the Conservancy has observed mink, river otter and peregrine falcons at Minnie's Island over the past month, even during the closure.