The massive sewage pipe that ruptured and leaked millions of gallons of raw waste into the Potomac River has returned to operation after the completion of emergency repairs. The utility that runs Washington’s water and sewage systems reported Saturday that it had completed testing to determine whether the 72-inch diameter pipe could handle the flow. The pipe broke on Jan. 19 and spilled about 250 million gallons over five days. DC Water worked with the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies to repair the leak and monitor the ecological impact on the river. Other work on the pipe and system could take months.
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A major sewer pipe collapse has dumped hundreds of millions of gallons of sewage into the Potomac River, highlighting a nationwide problem involving failing infrastructure. The Potomac spill was a huge, but rare event that led to an emergency declaration and federal help. But across the country, sewer overflows happen tens of thousands of times each year. Baltimore shows how bad persistent problems can be. People regularly experience sewage backups into their homes, ruining property and bringing in harmful bacteria. The EPA says there is more than $600 billion is needed for flooding and clean water needs over the next two decades. The Trump administration has cut some funding for the work.
Teddy Bloomquist, who suffered a sewage backup earlier this year, poses at his home in Baltimore on March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Phillis)
A cone with the letters of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works, which managers the city's wastewater services is visible on March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Phillis)
Cones sit near an area of Baltimore that previously suffered a sewage backup on March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Phillis)
Workers build a cofferdam to stop the flow of raw sewage into the Potomac River after a massive sewage pipe rupture in Glen Echo, Md., Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
A Virginia boater is suing DC Water, saying its negligence led to a massive sewage leak into the Potomac River. The class action complaint, filed Friday, argues the utility failed to keep its Potomac Interceptor pipe in a safe condition. The lawsuit targets damage tied to the January pipe collapse and spill. The plaintiff seeks compensation for property owners, boaters, and businesses that lost use and enjoyment of the river. DC Water says the pipe, installed in the 1960s, was deteriorating. Officials say they are still assessing the rupture’s cause. The suit does not name a dollar amount.
FILE - A warning sign is seen at the sight of a massive pipe rupture, as sewage flows into the Potomac River, right, in Glen Echo, Md., Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, FiLe)
The City of Rehoboth is set to begin its free spring bulk pick-up service on April 29.