Liberty Mill Road Emergency Sewer Repairs

Project Purpose

A 30-inch diameter sewer main that crosses under Liberty Mill Road near Germantown Elementary School collapsed and caused a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) on August 8, 2024. WSSC Water crews quickly responded and worked with contractors to set up a bypass pumping operation to move the wastewater around the collapsed sewer main – thus stopping the SSO.

Project Status

[Image]

The completion of the emergency work is ongoing and has been complicated by the need to replace more sewer main than initially anticipated. Additionally, the presence of underground electric lines located next to the sewer main has required special care and close coordination with PEPCO to ensure worker safety. Work was halted for the month of November as PEPCO and contractors developed a plan to safely work around these high-voltage lines. As of mid-December, WSSC Water has installed approximately 90 feet of new sewer main.

Work Remaining:  

Crews will continue working this winter to install the remaining approximately 60 feet of new sewer main, with expected completion in mid-to-late January 2025, weather permitting. Crews will perform permanent roadway patching when pipe installation is complete. A paving contractor will return in spring 2025 to complete curb-to-curb paving.  

What to Expect:  

WSSC Water is closely coordinating emergency repairs with the school. To minimize the impact to school operations, crews typically work from 5 p.m. to 4 a.m. When school is closed, work hours shift to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Work may occasionally extend beyond these hours to complete specific tasks. Emergency crews may also work over the weekends. Since this type of work can generate non-harmful sewer odors, crews are taking precautions to keep odors to a minimum by closing manholes during work hours whenever possible.

Key Contacts:  

WSSC Water Construction Manager
Matthew Campbell
202.641.6404 • Matthew.Campbell@wsscwater.com  

WSSC Water Customer Advocate  
Philip Callahan  
240.204.2123 • Philip.Callahan@wsscwater.com