Water safety in District of Columbia
Water Safety in Washington, DC
Water safety in DC: why swimming in the Potomac and Anacostia is prohibited, the river's hidden dangers, and DC's boating certificate rule.
Key takeaways
- Swimming is prohibited in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers in DC, except at approved special events.
- The National Park Service says many people have drowned in the Potomac because they underestimated the current, had been drinking or misjudged the depth.
- Anyone who operates a boat on DC waterways needs a Boating Safety Certificate.
- CDC reports that DC had too few drowning deaths in 2018-2021 to calculate a reliable rate, so no rate is shown here.
In Washington, DC, don't swim or wade in the Potomac or Anacostia rivers. It is prohibited outside approved events, and the Potomac's currents, deep holes and hidden debris have drowned many people who thought it looked calm. If you paddle or boat on DC's rivers, wear a life jacket and get a DC Boating Safety Certificate.
DC drowning and boating numbers
- Drowning: CDC reports that the District had too few drowning deaths in 2018-2021 to calculate a reliable drowning death rate, so its state map shows "Unreliable" (opens in a new tab) for DC. We don't show a number.
- Boating: The U.S. Coast Guard counted 3 reportable recreational boating incidents in DC in 2024, with no deaths and 3 injuries (opens in a new tab). Deaths by year: 3 in 2020, none in 2021 or 2022, 1 in 2023 and none in 2024.
- Boats: 1,742 registered vessels in 2024.
Small numbers do not mean the rivers are safe. CDC counts drowning deaths by where people live, not where they drowned, so visitors who drown in DC are counted in their home states. See our DC data page.
Swimming in DC's rivers is prohibited
The DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) says it may grant an exception to the swimming prohibition in the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers for special swimming events (opens in a new tab). Organizers must test the water and show that bacteria and pollutant levels are likely to be safe, and they need permission from the Metropolitan Police Department and the National Park Service. For everyone else on an ordinary day, the rule is no swimming.
The National Park Service, which manages the C&O Canal along the river, says swimming is not allowed in the canal waters and is prohibited within the Washington, DC and Montgomery County, MD section of the Potomac River (opens in a new tab). Upriver, it discourages swimming because of hidden flood debris, deep holes and strong currents.
Why the Potomac is dangerous
The Park Service is blunt: many people have drowned in the Potomac River because they underestimated the strength of the river current, were drinking alcohol when they decided to go swimming, or didn't think the river was deep enough (opens in a new tab) to need swimming skills.
- Current: the Park Service warns of possibly strong currents, and says not to go in when the water is running high or strong.
- Depth: the river has deep holes.
- Debris: floods leave hidden debris under the surface.
- Rising water: at Great Falls, the Park Service warns that storms can roll in quickly which causes the water levels to rise (opens in a new tab). The towpath floods regularly. If water covers it, don't cross.
- Alcohol: drinking and river water are a deadly mix. Read alcohol and swimming.
Our river safety guide explains currents and how to choose a safe place to cool off. A public pool with lifeguards is the safer choice in summer.
Emergency
Call 911 if someone is in the river. Don't jump in after them. Throw a rope, a life ring or anything that floats, and keep your eyes on them: reach or throw, don't go.
Boating in DC
The Metropolitan Police Department's Harbor Patrol says anyone operating a vessel on District of Columbia waterways is required to have a Boating Safety Certificate (opens in a new tab). Its boating page also explains life jackets:
- Most adults need an extra seven to 12 pounds of buoyancy to keep their heads above water (opens in a new tab), and a life jacket gives that lift.
- Every boat needs a wearable life jacket for each person on board, in good condition and the right size. Boats 16 feet or longer also need a throwable device.
- Try your life jacket on and test it in shallow water.
Kayakers and paddleboarders: wear the life jacket, don't stow it. See kayak and canoe safety.
Official DC resources
- MPD Harbor Patrol boating safety (opens in a new tab)
- DOEE swim events in the Potomac and Anacostia (opens in a new tab)
- C&O Canal safety (NPS) (opens in a new tab)
What you can do today
Tools and printables for this guide
Interactive tool
Life jacket finder
Find the right life jacket size, style and label level by weight, age, swimming ability and activity, based on U.S. Coast Guard guidance, plus a fit check.
Interactive tool
Family water safety plan
Make a one-page family water safety plan: who swims how well, Water Watcher turns, family rules, swim lessons and emergency numbers, with a QR code.
Printable
Lake, River and Open Water Safety Checklist
A one-page checklist for lake, river and pond days: where to swim, life jackets, feet-first entry, currents, alcohol, storms and getting help.
Printable
Reach or Throw, Don't Go
A poster of the safe way to help someone in trouble in the water: shout and call 911, reach from solid ground, throw something that floats, and don't go in.
Sources
- How to Obtain Approval for a Swim Event in the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers (opens in a new tab) DC Department of Energy and Environment
- Safety (Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park) (opens in a new tab) National Park Service
- Safety (Great Falls Park) (opens in a new tab) National Park Service
- Boating Safety (opens in a new tab) Metropolitan Police Department, Harbor Patrol Unit
- Drowning Data (Drowning Deaths by State, 2018-2021) (opens in a new tab) CDC
- Recreational Boating Statistics 2024 (opens in a new tab) U.S. Coast Guard