WSSC Water crews are working to repair a sewer main collapse in Germantown that forced the closing of Germantown Elementary School.
Crews are installing a bypass pumping operation to divert flow around the collapsed section of the pipe, which occurred near 1911 Liberty Mill Road.
The 30-inch diameter main collapse first was reported at 6:30 a.m. Thursday. No wastewater is escaping from the pipe at this time.
The sewer main caused a broken Washington Gas Service Line. That utility is on site, as are crews from Verizon due to a compromised telephone poll nearby.
Liberty Mill Road is closed between Dawson Farm and Pepper Court.
According to WSSC, the first job is to establish a bypass pumping operation. Next, crews will remove the damaged pipe and install a new section of PVC pipe.
The section had been scheduled for replacement under a current contract that needed additional design work and coordination with utilities.
We are on site at 19111 Liberty Mill Rd in Germantown responding to a collapsed 30-inch diameter sewer main and are mobilizing a bypass pumping operation. Wastewater is NOT escaping the pipe at this time, and drinking water is NOT impacted. We will continue to provide updates and…
— WSSC Water (@WSSCWaterNews) March 19, 2026
(~10a) 19100 Liberty Mill Rd., near Dawson Farm Rd, Germantown, outside gas leak, @mcfrs responded, gas company controlled gas, some lanes blocked pic.twitter.com/OdATal2x9I
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) March 19, 2026
