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In a significant move, the Justice Department has initiated legal action against Washington, D.C., and its water and sewer authority. On Monday, a federal court received a complaint from the department, demanding financial penalties for the entities’ involvement in a substantial sewage leak that resulted in millions of gallons of raw sewage pouring into the Potomac River.
This legal step follows a major incident involving a 72-inch pipeline known as the Potomac Interceptor. On January 19, the pipeline suffered a collapse, which led to sewage erupting from the ground and finding its way into the river just north of Washington, D.C., within Montgomery County, Maryland. The environmental mishap released an astounding 244 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac, highlighting the urgent need to address the nation’s outdated infrastructure.
DC Water, the local water authority, admitted to being aware of the pipeline’s deteriorating condition, acknowledging that it had been installed back in the 1960s. They had already commenced rehabilitation works on a section roughly a quarter-mile from the site of the break last September, which were recently concluded.
The Justice Department’s complaint accuses DC Water of failing to adequately operate and maintain the sewer system, which is essential to prevent untreated sewage from contaminating the Potomac River and other areas where human contact is possible.
“The neglect by DC Water in maintaining the Potomac Interceptor has led to an outpouring of raw sewage into the river and its surroundings, directly threatening public health,” commented Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson. He emphasized the necessity for cities to invest in their wastewater systems as urban populations grow and infrastructure ages to avert such environmental disasters.
The complaint was one of two filed against DC Water Monday. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown filed a separate action in Montgomery County Circuit Court seeking civil penalties and damages for costs from the contamination of the river.
“The utility must take full responsibility for the damage caused and take immediate and lasting action to prevent future spills,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain in a statement.
DC Water said in a statement that it was “fully committed to the long-term rehabilitation” of the Potomac Interceptor. The agency added that its highest priority was to contain the overflow and repair the damaged section of the pipe, which it did in fully stopping “all discharges to the Potomac River within 21 days. The repairs of the affected segment were completed in 55 days. DC Water is working now to accelerate the rehabilitation of more than 2,700 linear feet of pipeline in this area that was previously scheduled for improvement.”
The statement declared that both lawsuits were “under review.”
The leak sparked political recriminations from President Donald Trump — who blamed local Democratic leaders, focusing especially on Maryland’s Democratic Gov. Wes Moore. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser declared an emergency in February and asked Trump for help. He issued an emergency declaration days later that provided a rush of federal assistance.
The pipe was returned to operation last month after emergency repairs were completed.
The leak is largely under control, but it could take months to fully repair the pipe. DC Water, along with the EPA, has been working to repair the leak and monitor the impact on the river.