The federal government has officially filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), alleging the utility ignored warning signs and allowed a major sewage pipeline to collapse, spilling raw waste into the Potomac River.
The complaint, filed Monday by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice, claims DC Water violated the Clean Water Act by failing to maintain the Potomac Interceptor.
This 54-mile regional pipeline carries roughly 60 million gallons of wastewater daily from Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. to the Blue Plains treatment plant.
Federal officials allege that DC Water disregarded clear indicators that the pipe was failing. When the collapse eventually occurred, the government said the utility’s attempts to fix the situation were insufficient.
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While sewage was diverted through the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, the move reportedly polluted a national park and allowed raw waste to continue flowing into the Potomac.
“When the Potomac Interceptor collapsed, President Trump called on EPA to lead the federal response and we delivered,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “Today’s action, partnering with Acting AG Blanche and DOJ, holds the responsible parties accountable.”
The crisis prompted a federal emergency declaration on February 20, 2026. The EPA took the lead on the cleanup, which was finalized by mid-March.
The lawsuit also highlights a jurisdictional dispute. Although the collapse happened within Maryland, federal officials say the state refused to take action. Maryland Governor Wes Moore stated in February that because the pipe belongs to D.C. and sits on federal land, the state had “nothing to do with this.”
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However, the EPA maintains that because Maryland has federal primacy over the Clean Water Act, it was obligated to enforce regulations within its borders.
The legal action seeks civil penalties and a court order to force DC Water to repair the damage and upgrade its infrastructure to prevent a repeat of the disaster.
“The neglect and collapse of the Potomac Interceptor threatened the national waterway flowing by and serving our nation’s capital,” said Jeffrey Hall, EPA Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Pollution that jeopardizes core federal interests warrants federal enforcement.”
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