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D.C. Declares Emergency Over Potomac Sewage Spill, Seeks Federal Disaster Aid

An enhanced bypass is close to activation, which would let DC Water start a 4–6 week emergency fix before a months-long rehabilitation.

Raw sewage flows out of a drainage pipe into the C&O Canal near Cabin John, Maryland, on February 18, 2026, after 243 million gallons of wastewater spilled into the Potomac River. The stench has reached the White House: A major sewage leak near Washington is provoking a clash between President Donald Trump and a rising Democratic star, Maryland Governor Wes Moore. One month ago a pipe carrying sewage from the US capital and parts of the neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia burst, sending hundreds of millions of liters of waste into the Potomac River. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)
Emergency equipment is staged along the C&O Canal towpath in Cabin John, Md., on Feb. 18.
Pumps and pipes divert raw sewage into the C&O Canal and around a broken section of the Potomac Interceptor, a six-foot-wide pipe that collapsed on January 19, in between the Clara Barton Parkway and the canal, in Cabin John, Md., on Feb. 16, 2026.

Overview

  • Mayor Muriel Bowser formally asked President Trump for a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration to trigger FEMA coordination, U.S. Army Corps assessments, technical support, small‑business assistance, and 100% reimbursement for District and DC Water costs.
  • DC Water says the strengthened bypass is nearly finished; once online, emergency repairs are expected to take 4–6 weeks, followed by a 9–10 month rehabilitation of the damaged Potomac Interceptor segment.
  • Officials estimate roughly 240–300 million gallons of raw sewage entered the river after the Jan. 19 collapse; researchers report elevated pathogen levels near the break, while agencies say drinking water is safe but direct contact with the Potomac remains discouraged.
  • The White House says it stands ready to help after formal requests, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noting Trump’s concern about odors during America 250 events; Maryland Gov. Wes Moore argues the failed pipe sits on federal land and faults federal inaction.
  • FEMA and EPA personnel engaged with local and regional partners this week as Washington seeks federal funding and oversight, while nearby communities report persistent odors and limited recreational access.