When I paddle on the Potomac River in the DC area, I often see things floating in the water. Usually, it's just driftwood or river grass, but I often check just to make sure.

Why? Because according to a recent lawsuit, DC's Water and Sewer Authority discharges about 2 billion gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers and their tributaries each year.

That's a lot of sewage. So when I see a "floater," I want to know what it is.