Potomac River water quality holds steady, but remains unsafe for fishing and swimming – WJLA

2025 Potomac River Health Assessment and Sustainable Development Goals

The 2025 Potomac River report card has assigned a “B” grade for water quality, indicating a stable but unimproved condition. This assessment highlights significant challenges in achieving several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), as the river remains largely unsafe for recreational activities such as swimming and fishing.

Key Findings and SDG Implications

Water Quality, Public Health, and Sanitation (SDG 6 & SDG 3)

The persistent “B” rating underscores a failure to meet the targets of SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The report explicitly states the river is not reliably safe for swimming or consuming its fish, directly conflicting with Target 6.3 (improve water quality by reducing pollution) and Target 6.6 (protect and restore water-related ecosystems). Furthermore, as the primary drinking water source for five million people, the stagnant water quality poses a risk to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), specifically Target 3.9, which seeks to reduce illnesses from water pollution.

Environmental Pressures from Urbanization and Land Use (SDG 11 & SDG 15)

The report identifies two primary drivers for the lack of improvement, which are directly linked to land-based SDGs:

• Rapid Forest Loss: This directly undermines SDG 15 (Life on Land), particularly Target 15.1 (ensure the conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems) and Target 15.2 (halt deforestation). Forest cover is critical for filtering pollutants and preventing runoff.
• Polluted Runoff from Sprawl: This issue highlights challenges related to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Unmanaged urban expansion contributes to pollution, working against Target 11.6, which aims to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities. While infrastructure improvements to address urban pollution are noted, their impact has not yet elevated the river’s overall health grade.

Ecosystem Health and Recreation (SDG 14 & SDG 3)

The river’s unsuitability for fishing points to a stressed aquatic ecosystem, a core concern of SDG 14 (Life Below Water). Land-based pollution is a primary threat to aquatic health, as outlined in Target 14.1. Paradoxically, outdoor recreation on the river has increased by 10% since 2020. This trend supports the well-being goals of SDG 3 but also increases public exposure to water that does not meet safety standards, creating a public health concern.

Historical Performance Analysis

Report Card History

The river’s health has shown long-term improvement from a decade ago but has plateaued in recent years, failing to progress beyond a “B” grade. This history indicates that while past efforts were effective, current strategies are insufficient to overcome modern pressures.

• 2025: B
• 2023: B
• 2020: B-
• 2018: B
• 2016: B-
• 2013: C
• 2011: D
• 2007: D+

Conclusion

The 2025 Potomac River report card reveals a critical juncture where progress toward meeting Sustainable Development Goals has stalled. The “B” grade, while an improvement over historical lows, is not sufficient to ensure ecological health or public safety. Achieving meaningful progress will require a renewed and intensified focus on integrated strategies that address the root causes of pollution, specifically by advancing the objectives of SDG 15 (Life on Land) through halting deforestation and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through managing urban runoff. Without these measures, the fundamental goals of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) for the region’s five million residents will remain at risk.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The entire article focuses on the water quality of the Potomac River, its suitability for drinking, and the pollution affecting it. This directly aligns with the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
2. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article explicitly mentions that “rapid forest loss” is a primary reason for the river’s “B” rating. This connects the river’s health to the health of terrestrial ecosystems, a core focus of SDG 15.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The report identifies “polluted runoff from sprawl” and “urban pollution” as key problems. This links the river’s condition to urban development patterns and the environmental impact of cities.
4. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article states the river “isn’t reliably safe for swimming or eating its fish,” which points to the direct health risks posed by water pollution to the population.
5. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Although the Potomac is a river, it is a major tributary to the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Pollution from land-based sources like “polluted runoff” directly impacts downstream marine ecosystems, which is a central concern of SDG 14.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution.
   • The article’s main theme is the water quality of the Potomac, which is compromised by “urban pollution” and “polluted runoff.” The “B” rating reflects the current state of water quality.
2. Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including rivers and forests.
   • The article discusses the overall health of the Potomac River (a water-related ecosystem) and links its degradation to “rapid forest loss,” highlighting the need for protection and restoration.
3. Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests.
   • The mention of “rapid forest loss” directly relates to this target, which emphasizes the conservation of forests and their role in maintaining the health of freshwater ecosystems like the Potomac River.
4. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities.
   • The article cites “polluted runoff from sprawl” and “urban pollution” as major contributors to the river’s condition, directly implicating the environmental impact of urban areas.
5. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from water pollution and contamination.
   • The warning that the river is not “reliably safe for swimming or eating its fish” implies a direct risk of illness from water contamination, which this target aims to reduce.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Water Quality Grade:
   • The “B” rating from the Potomac River report card is a direct, quantifiable indicator of the ambient water quality in the river. The historical data provided (B-, C, D) shows how this indicator tracks progress over time, relevant to Target 6.3.
2. Safety for Human Use:
   • The article’s statements that the water “isn’t good for fishing and swimming” and is not “reliably safe” serve as qualitative indicators of water pollution’s impact on human health and recreation. This can be used to measure progress towards Target 3.9.
3. Rate of Forest Cover Change:
   • The mention of “rapid forest loss” as a cause implies that the rate of deforestation or afforestation in the Potomac watershed is a critical indicator for measuring progress on Target 15.1 and its impact on Target 6.6.
4. Level of Urban Polluted Runoff:
   • While not quantified, “polluted runoff from sprawl” is identified as a primary problem. Measuring the concentration of pollutants in runoff from urban areas would be a direct indicator for Target 11.6.

4. Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wjla.com