Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Feb 19: A major environmental disaster is unfolding along the Potomac River following the collapse of a massive sewer pipe north of Washington, D.C., releasing an estimated 243.5 million gallons of raw sewage into the waterway, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported Tuesday.

The spill, described as one of the largest in U.S. history by the University of Maryland, has led to E. coli levels hundreds of times above the EPA’s safety limits. Officials from DC Water urged residents to avoid the contaminated river and to wash thoroughly if exposed, warning of gastrointestinal illness, skin infections, and other health risks.

Due to the river being frozen, areas near Georgetown tested within safe limits for human exposure, but officials caution that contact with untreated wastewater should still be avoided. First responders in Montgomery County, Maryland, have been instructed to treat calls near the site as hazardous, wearing full protective gear.

Political tensions have emerged over responsibility for the crisis. President Trump stated federal authorities had not yet intervened, while Maryland Governor Wes Moore insisted that the federal government has long been responsible for maintaining the pipe. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a public emergency and requested a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration to secure federal support for cleanup and repairs.

The 54-mile Potomac Interceptor, which carries roughly 60 million gallons of wastewater daily from as far as Sterling, Virginia, to D.C.’s Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant, suffered the collapse on January 19. DC Water crews completed a bypass by January 24 to reroute sewage around the damaged section. Emergency repairs are expected to be completed by mid-March, while full long-term reconstruction will take nine to ten months.

Officials emphasized that drinking water remains safe, as the city’s sewer and water systems are separate. DC Water continues to monitor the situation closely and has outlined further steps, including the installation of a steel bulkhead gate to isolate the damaged pipe section before excavation and final repairs.

The unprecedented spill has sparked calls for stronger infrastructure oversight and renewed attention to environmental safeguards along one of the nation’s most significant waterways.