Potomac River named nation's most endangered due to data centers, aging infrastructure

The Potomac River has been designated America's Most Endangered River for 2026 by the environmental nonprofit American Rivers, according to a report highlighted by NBC4 Washington. Betsy Nicholas, President of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, explained that while a 230-million-gallon raw sewage spill in January significantly contributed to the ranking, data centers were already a major concern slated to place the river in the top ten. Nicholas stated that the "rapid, unchecked buildout of data centers" in the D.C. area, Northern Virginia, and Maryland poses a significant threat to the Potomac. These facilities require substantial water for cooling, potentially drawing 2 to 4 million gallons daily, which strains drinking water supplies already impacted by extreme weather and population growth. The report also raises concerns about potential toxic contamination from the data center infrastructure itself. A critical issue identified is the absence of a comprehensive, watershed-wide analysis of the cumulative environmental effects of these numerous data center projects. This oversight creates "dangerous gaps" in understanding their impact on downstream communities, ecosystems, and water treatment costs. Nicholas emphasized the need for proactive planning and mitigation to minimize environmental damage, drawing a parallel to the region's aging infrastructure, exemplified by the delayed repairs to the Potomac Interceptor sewer line that led to the January spill. The report aims to draw attention to these dual threats—data center development and neglected infrastructure—to ensure better investment and planning for the 5 million people who rely on the Potomac for drinking water and the 7 million living within its basin across Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and D.C.