Justice Department sues D.C. over massive sewage spill disaster

The Justice Department filed a complaint this week in federal court against the city of Washington, D.C., and its water and sewer authority, DC Water, 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 pipeline, called the Potomac Interceptor, which collapsed on January 19, releasing 244 million gallons of sewage into the river just north of Washington in Montgomery County, Maryland.

DC Water acknowledged that the pipe, first installed in the 1960s, was deteriorating, and rehabilitation work on a section about a quarter-mile from the break began in September. The complaint alleges that DC Water failed to properly operate and maintain its sewer system, resulting in untreated sewage entering the Potomac River and posing a direct risk to public health. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson stated, "DC Water's failure to maintain the Potomac Interceptor resulted in raw sewage flowing into the Potomac River and the surrounding environment."

In addition to the Justice Department's complaint, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown filed a separate action in Montgomery County Circuit Court seeking civil penalties and damages for the contamination. Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain emphasized that the utility must take full responsibility for the damage caused.

DC Water stated it is committed to the long-term rehabilitation of the Potomac Interceptor and has prioritized containing the overflow and repairing the damaged section of the pipe. The agency reported that it fully stopped all discharges to the Potomac River within 21 days and completed repairs in 55 days. However, the leak has sparked political tensions, with President Donald Trump blaming local Democratic leaders, including Maryland's Governor Wes Moore. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser declared an emergency in February, leading to federal assistance following Trump's emergency declaration.

The leak is largely under control, but full repairs could take months. DC Water, along with the EPA, continues to monitor the impact on the river.