U.S. Files Legal Action After Massive Sewage Spill Pollutes Potomac River

The Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Justice have filed a complaint against the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority following a major sewage leak into the Potomac River. The action comes after a rupture in the Potomac Interceptor sewer line in January released over 200 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the river. Authorities allege the incident violated the Clean Water Act, which governs water pollution and sets quality standards. Federal agencies are seeking financial penalties alongside mandated infrastructure repairs, including sewer rehabilitation and pollution mitigation measures. The case adds to mounting legal pressure, as Maryland’s attorney general has also filed a separate lawsuit over the spill. The incident has raised serious concerns about aging infrastructure and the environmental risks posed by large-scale wastewater failures.