Environmental Group Offers $1,000 Reward If You Can Solve Mystery Sheen on Potomac

An environmental group is offering a cash reward to anyone who can shed some light on the mystery sheen floating on the Potomac River.

Potomac Riverkeeper Network announced Thursday that it is offering a $1,000 reward for information identifying those responsible for the plume of pollution in the Potomac River. The plume, first discovered over the weekend, has forced area water utilities to take measures to protect the drinking water of millions of area residents this week including those in Northern Virginia.

Fairfax Water is conducting ongoing water sampling and analysis to monitor water quality.

An oily substance floating on the surface of the river was identified Sunday about 45 miles upstream of the District, near Point of Rocks, Md. River models predict that it could arrive downriver, near the District and Northern Virginia as soon as Thursday or Friday, the environmental group said.

Local utilities have set booms, closed intakes and/or increased the frequency of monitoring to avoid introducing the unidentified pollution into municipal water supplies.

“Our rivers are vital to our health and our economy," said Dean Naujoks of Potomac Riverkeeper. "When individuals or corporations use these public resources as their private dump, it impacts us all. That’s why we’re offering a reward to encourage anyone who saw something, to say something."

“The sheer size of our watershed demands that citizens play a role in its protection," said Jeff Kelble, president of Potomac Riverkeeper Network. "Our organization was founded on the idea that those closest to our rivers — through their work or their recreation — are best able to identify and prevent pollution. The more people realize how valuable our rivers are, and play a role in protecting them, the more likely we are to prevent situations like this."

The EPA is the lead federal agency coordinating the response and spearheading the investigation to identify the source of the pollution. Potomac Riverkeeper Network will pass along information it receives to EPA to aid in their investigation. Tips about potential sources of this pollution can be reported to Potomac Riverkeeper Network.

PHOTO: DC Department of Energy and Environment