Maryland sues DC Water over multi-million-gallon Potomac River sewage leak
Published on April 20, 2026.
DC Water is being sued by Maryland leaders over a multi-million-gallon sewage leak, which occurred when one of the agency's aging sewer lines broke and sent millions of gallons of contaminated water into the Potomac River. The lawsuit, filed by State Attorney General Anthony Brown and the Maryland Department of the Environment, alleges that DC Water failed to maintain repairs on the over-50-year-old, 54-mile-long Potomic Interceptor. The complaint also demands that DCWater pay up to $10,000 per day of the leak, cover testing and cleanup costs, and cover damages to state natural resources. The 72-inch section of the line broke on Jan. 19, but emergency repairs were not completed until March 16, over 50 days later. The leak was described as one of America's worst environmental disasters in recent history.
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