According to a recent Washington Post article, a new study released on Tuesday, September 7th, shows that the Potomac River is cleaner now than it has been since the mid twentieth century. Much of the improvement in the river's health has been attributed to large scale upgrades at the Blue Plains sewage treatment plant which handles waste from the District and parts of Montgomery, Prince George's Fairfax, Loudon and Arlington counties.

Proof of the rivers recovering health can be found on the bottom of the river where underwater grasses are once again growing. The ground covered by underwater grasses has nearly doubled since 1990. Despite this good news, the Potomac still suffers from high levels of other pollutants that have forced local authorities to warn residents about swimming in it and eating its fish. The river has also been contaminated by an unknown chemical that is making male bass grow eggs. Read the full story>>>