US Military jet fuel spill renews concerns about the region’s water safety
/The Potomac’s “bad year” keeps getting worse…
Potomac Conservancy Statement | April 23, 2026
Potomac Conservancy was alarmed to learn that U.S. Air Force Joint Base Andrews reported a 32,000-gallon jet fuel leak last month to the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) and even more so when it was revealed that systems designed to prevent these leaks had experienced numerous unreported failures leading up to the incident. The fuel spilled into Piscataway Creek, which flows directly into the Potomac River.
We’re grateful for the leadership at MDE for keeping the public informed of this spill and urge them to hold Joint Base Andrews to the highest standards and demand accountability to prevent spills like this from occurring in the future.
Piscataway Creek is a treasured tributary in the Potomac Watershed with a long and rich history of serving the community it flows through. We support recent calls from lawmakers to the US Air Force demanding for greater transparency, clear timelines, and restoration and cleanup plans to reverse any damage that has been done to this critical waterway.
Sadly, this incident isn’t isolated. It’s part of a broader pattern of infrastructure failures and pollution events that continue to threaten the Potomac River’s health.
Coming on the heels of this winter’s massive sewage spill and the Potomac’s designation as the country’s “Most Endangered River,” from rapid data center growth, this jet fuel leak is yet another example of how systemic breakdowns are adding pressure on our already vulnerable river.
Without stronger safeguards, the cumulative impacts of these stressors will slow the Potomac’s recovery and keep eroding public trust in our region’s water safety. Potomac Conservancy remains committed to fighting for clean water and returning safe, swimmable water to the Potomac River.
Help us restore the Potomac River and rebuild trust.
Decades of hard-fought progress to restore the Potomac River are at risk. Designated the country’s “Most Endangered River” by American Rivers,
the Potomac River faces growing threats from:
Polluted urban runoff
Rapid forest loss
Data center impacts
Extreme droughts and flooding
Donate today and help Potomac Conservancy strengthen water protection laws and conserve streamside forests! Together, we’ll make the Potomac safe for the people, wildlife, and businesses it sustains!
