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Washington Mayor Declares Emergency Over Potomac Sewage Spill, Seeks Federal Aid

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has declared a local public emergency following the collapse of a major sewage pipeline, which has spilled over 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River since January 19. The mayor is requesting federal support, including FEMA-led coordination and full reimbursement for costs incurred by the District and DC Water. Former President Donald Trump has publicly criticized local officials from DC, Maryland, and Virginia for their handling of the crisis. Repair work is ongoing, with a bypass system diverting wastewater while officials assure the public that drinking water remains safe.

Key Points: Potomac Sewage Spill Emergency: Mayor Bowser Seeks Federal Support

  • 200M+ gallon sewage spill from pipeline collapse
  • Mayor requests FEMA coordination and 100% cost reimbursement
  • Drinking water declared safe despite ongoing crisis
  • Trump criticizes local leaders' handling of the spill
2 min read

Washington Mayor declares Potomac sewage spill emergency, requests federal support

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser declares a public emergency over a massive Potomac River sewage spill, requesting full federal reimbursement and FEMA coordination.

"If they can't do the job, they have to call me and ask, politely, to get it fixed. - Donald Trump"

Washington, Feb 19

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has declared the month-long Potomac River sewage spill a local public emergency to request federal support.

On January 19, a section of Potomac Interceptor, a major sewage pipeline operated by DC Water -- the main water utility that serves Washington -- collapsed, releasing over 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River. The US capital and surrounding areas have been grappling with the spill.

The mayor on Wednesday (local time) requested the federal government to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish regular interagency coordination calls among federal agencies, affected states, and the District to maintain shared situational awareness and align federal assistance.

She also requested the federal government provide additional federal technical and testing assistance for expanded water quality monitoring, environmental modelling and engineering support, as needed.

In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, the mayor said that the request seeks 100 per cent "reimbursement" for costs incurred by the District and DC Water.

The Potomac River runs through Washington and into the Chesapeake Bay, which then connects to the Atlantic Ocean. DC Water officials have said the region's drinking water remains safe to drink.

The latest request from the mayor came as President Donald Trump recently criticised local leaders for the handling of the spill.

In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump said DC, Maryland and Virginia officials "must get to work, IMMEDIATELY" to address the Potomac sewage spill.

"If they can't do the job, they have to call me and ask, politely, to get it fixed," Trump said.

An alert on the website of DC Water said that repair work "continues" and that "a bypass established five days after the overflow occurred continues to successfully divert wastewater around the collapse site and back into the pipe further downstream."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
It's shocking that a major capital city's infrastructure can fail so badly and for so long. A month is unacceptable. The mayor is right to ask for federal help, this is beyond local capacity.
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Priyanka N
Trump's comment is so typical. "Call me politely" – always about ego, not solving the problem. The focus should be on the engineering and environmental support, not politics. 😐
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Aman W
They say drinking water is safe, but I'd be very worried if I lived there. This is a reminder for all Indian cities to invest in modernising old sewage and water lines. Prevention is better than a costly crisis.
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Michael C
A respectful criticism: declaring an emergency after a month seems reactive, not proactive. Infrastructure maintenance shouldn't wait for a collapse. Hope the federal coordination speeds things up.
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Shreya B
The scale is mind-boggling. The Potomac flows into the Chesapeake Bay and then the Atlantic. The ecological impact could be huge. This needs global attention, not just federal. 🌍

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