**IMPORTANT – ICPRB has changed their spill reporting phone number to 773-913-8462. When there is a contaminant spill in the river, please first call the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center at 800-424-8802 and then call ICPRB’s hotline at 773-913-8462.**
Partnering to Protect our Drinking Water
Coordinated by ICPRB, the Potomac River Basin Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership (DWSPP) is a coalition of government agencies and water utilities working together to protect the sources of our drinking water.
At yesterday’s quarterly meeting, the group heard from regional jurisdictions regarding their organization’s response to PFAS, a manmade chemical that is known to be toxic in minute quantities and remain in the environment (water, soil, etc.) for a long time.
In addition to hearing from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia representatives, members learned about the interactive monitoring map in the Maryland Department of the Environment’s PFAS Monitoring and Mitigation is a Priority for Maryland StoryMap and Virginia’s Department of the Environmental Quality’s water quality monitoring map.
Learn more about DWSPP’s work in the recently published 2024 Annual Report >>>
Wrapping up Winter Salt Awareness Week
That’s a wrap on the 2025 Winter Salt Awareness Week. It was a busy week for ICPRB and our partners who spread the word (not the salt!) on the negative impacts of winter salt.
On Wednesday, ICPRB staff joined representatives from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia for a webinar discussing the successes and challenges the region faces in addressing this issue, as well as what residents can do to to make a difference.
On Thursday, ICPRB worked with Mayor Michael O’Connor of the City of Frederick, MD, to proclaim the week of January 27-31, 2025, Winter Salt Awareness Week for Frederick. The event was paired with an educational presentation by ICPRB and City staff to science and English students at Frederick High School on the impacts of winter salt and actions they can take to make a difference. The students got the chance to design art for a snow plow blade that will be used by the City of Frederick’s Department of Public Works to educate the public on this issue. See more photos >>>
On Friday, ICPRB joined our partners at the Winter Salt Awareness Open House at the headquarters of the Izaak Walton League of America in Gaithersburg, MD. We invited media, the public, and organizations who work to protect our waterways. The audience learned about what these organizations are doing to reduce the amount of winter salt we use on our roads and sidewalks while still maintaining public safety. A test of the stream on the property showed winter salt literally off the charts after the recent rain. See more photos >>>
These events as well as a series of national webinars were part of a national awareness campaign organized by Wisconsin Salt Wise.
To spread the word with business owners, condo associations, HOAs, or property managers, please share these upcoming trainings:
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Contracting with Road Salt Applicators: Keeping Your Wallet, Drinking Water, and the Environment in Mind – Webinar on March 17 for business owners, property managers, homeowners and condo association board members, and others who contract with road salt applicators and snow removal companies.
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Smart Salting: Enhanced Winter Maintenance Training Series (date TBD) through the Maryland Department of the Environment for property managers, business owners, landscaping companies, and other private contractors/salt applicators interested in effective ice melting strategies that protect the environment while also maintaining profitability and meeting customer expectations.
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REMINDER: If you believe you have information related to the recovery efforts of the plane crash in the Potomac or Anacostia rivers or on the shore, immediately call 911. Do not touch or remove the item(s). This is critical to supporting the impacted families and investigation.