WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department filed a complaint Monday in federal court against the city of Washington, D.C., and its water and sewer authority, seeking financial penalties for their role in a leak that led to millions of gallons of raw sewage spilling into the Potomac River.
The complaint stems from a massive leak in a 72-inch (183-centimeter) pipeline, called the Potomac Interceptor. The pipe collapsed on January 19, releasing sewage into the river just north of Washington in Montgomery County, Maryland. The leak resulted in 244 million gallons (924 million liters) of raw sewage contaminating the Potomac River, which has raised alarms about the nation’s aging infrastructure.
The local water authority, DC Water, acknowledged it was aware of the deteriorating state of the pipe, which was first installed in the 1960s. Rehabilitation of a section located a quarter-mile (400 meters) from the break began in September and was recently completed.
The Justice Department's complaint alleges negligence on the part of DC Water in maintaining its sewer system to prevent untreated sewage from contaminating the Potomac River and surrounding areas.
“DC Water’s failure to maintain the Potomac Interceptor resulted in raw sewage flowing into the Potomac River and the surrounding environment, posing a direct risk to public health,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown also filed a separate civil complaint against DC Water, seeking penalties and damages for the contamination of the river, emphasizing that the utility needs to take accountability and implement immediate action to prevent future incidents.
DC Water has committed to a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for the Potomac Interceptor and has focused its efforts on stopping the overflow and repairing the affected pipe section. The agency stated that it successfully contained the overflow and halted discharges to the Potomac River within 21 days, completing repairs in a total of 55 days.
The incident has triggered political fallout, with President Donald Trump pointing fingers at local Democratic leaders, especially Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore. In February, Mayor Muriel Bowser declared an emergency, requesting federal assistance from Trump, who subsequently issued an emergency declaration to allow for swift federal support.
As the situation stabilizes, ongoing repairs and monitoring processes are underway to address the long-term impacts of the spill on the river's ecosystem.
