wastewater infrastructure

DC Sewage Spill Shows Us Nationwide Wastewater Infrastructure Problem

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Brown sewage pours from a large pipe into a river, with the Washington Monument and a bridge in the background under a cloudy sky. Text at top reads 'SEWAGE SPILL IN WASHINGTON, D.C.'

CLIFF NOTES Washington, D.C. spilled about 240 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River from mid-January to mid-March 2026. The article says it may be the largest sewage spill in U.S. history, and it warns more spills are coming. It blames aging mid-20th-century sewer systems and chronic underinvestment. Overflows happen from breaks, blockages … Read more

Potomac River Suffers Massive Sewage Spill

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Large pipe spilling sewage into Potomac River with warning signs and caution tape.

CLIFF NOTES A 72-inch sewer pipe in Montgomery County, Maryland, ruptured on January 19, 2026, spilling about 40 million gallons of sewage daily into the Potomac River. The spill occurred near Clara Barton Parkway and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, upstream from Washington, D.C. DC Water is installing pumps to divert sewage from … Read more