Maryland, Virginia Democrats Press DC Water Over Potomac Sewage Spill

Lawmakers demand transparency and action from utility after massive wastewater leak into vital river.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Democratic lawmakers from Maryland and Virginia are pressing DC Water, the regional utility, over a recent wastewater spill that leaked millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River. In a letter to the DC Water CEO, the lawmakers expressed "serious concern" about the collapse of a major sewer line that resulted in the massive discharge, and called for frequent public updates, transparency, and a comprehensive response to address the environmental and public health impacts.

Why it matters

The Potomac River is a critical natural resource that provides drinking water to millions of people in the region, supports important ecosystems, and is a source of recreation and livelihood. This sewage spill, one of the largest in the country's history, poses significant risks to public health and the environment that demand a robust and coordinated response from local authorities.

The details

A 72-inch diameter pipe that conveys around 60 million gallons of wastewater per day from Maryland and Virginia communities to a treatment plant in Washington, D.C. collapsed in January, resulting in the discharge of an estimated 243 million gallons of raw, untreated sewage into the Potomac River by early February. The lawmakers are pressing DC Water, the regional utility responsible for the sewer line, to provide frequent public updates on the repair work, water quality testing, and any other developments related to the spill.

  • The sewer line collapse was discovered on January 19, 2026.
  • By February 6, 2026, around 243 million gallons of wastewater had leaked into the Potomac River.

The players

DC Water

The regional utility responsible for the sewer line that collapsed, leading to the massive wastewater spill into the Potomac River.

David Gadis

The CEO of DC Water.

Chris Van Hollen

A Democratic U.S. Senator from Maryland.

Angela Alsobrooks

A Democratic county executive in Maryland.

Steny Hoyer

A Democratic U.S. Representative from Maryland.

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What they’re saying

“The failure of this 72-inch diameter pipe, which conveys approximately 60 million gallons of wastewater per day from communities in Maryland and Virginia to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington, D.C., resulted in a massive discharge of raw, untreated sewage into the Potomac River.”

— Maryland and Virginia Democrats (thehill.com)

“The Potomac River is a vital natural resource that provides drinking water to five million people, supports a rich and diverse ecosystem, and serves as a source of recreation, livelihood, and pride for communities across our region.”

— Maryland and Virginia Democrats (thehill.com)

“This is one of the largest sewage spills in our country's history, and its consequences for public health, the environment, and our communities demand a comprehensive and sustained response as well as clear communication with the public.”

— Maryland and Virginia Democrats (thehill.com)

What’s next

The lawmakers are calling on DC Water to provide frequent, accurate, and transparent updates to the public regarding the status of repair work at the collapse site, bacteria levels in the river, and any other developments related to the sewage spill.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the critical importance of maintaining and investing in aging water infrastructure, as well as the need for robust emergency response and communication plans to protect public health and the environment when such failures occur. Elected officials are demanding accountability and transparency from the utility responsible for this major environmental disaster.