As the pressures of climate change, population growth, data center development and aging infrastructure mount, experts are warning that there is a dry and uncertain future on the horizon for the Potomac River, the region’s primary drinking water source.
On Wednesday, regional leaders, researchers, scientists, policymakers and representatives from community organizations and water utility companies gathered at the 2026 Potomac River Conference at The Crossvines in Poolesville to discuss the future of the Potomac, water supply planning and the challenges up ahead for the river. The conference was held by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB).
The ICPRB is a compact that conducts research and deals with water quality and quantity issues in the region. In past years, the annual conference focused on subject matters such as algal blooms, invasive species and PFAS, or forever chemicals.
The Potomac River Basin is a watershed that stretches across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The basin is home to one of the largest concentrations of data centers in the world, a March ICPRB report said.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Elia Griffin over at Bethesda Today
