February 19, 2026 Notices are posted along the Potomac River in Cabin John, Maryland warning of a sewage overflow area. This week, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a public emergency over the Potomac River sewage spill, 30 days after a section of a major pipe collapsed, releasing millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the river.
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images News | Getty Images
President Donald Trump has approved emergency aid to Washington, D.C., to help the city deal with a leak in its wastewater system that dumped at least 250 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Potomac River.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Saturday announced President Trump’s authorization to allow FEMA to provide equipment and resources to help respond to the Jan. 19 spill after the pipeline ruptured.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday requested assistance from the federal government and declared a state of emergency.
President Trump’s approval of the disaster relief request came after he slammed local Democratic leaders and criticized their response to the spill, focusing in particular on Maryland’s Democratic governor, Wes Moore.
In a social media post criticizing the response, he said local authorities had not called for emergency aid and would intervene.
However, the federal government, through the Environmental Protection Agency, was already involved in repairs and assessing the impact of the leak.
A 72-inch (183-centimetre) pipeline known as the Potomac Interceptor ruptured on January 19, sending 250 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River just north of Washington in the first five days.
The leak is almost under control, but it could take months to fully repair the pipe. The local water utility, DC Water, is working with the EPA to repair the leak and monitor the impact on the river.
Officials say the area’s drinking water is safe, but recreational users of the Potomac River are being warned to avoid direct contact with the water.
