Impact of Sewage Spill in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Persists

On January 19, 2026, an aging sewer pipe in Maryland burst, releasing over 900 million liters of untreated sewage into the Potomac River (the capital’s drinking water source). E. coli levels exceeded the standard by 12,000 times, and the sewage contained fecal pathogens and pharmaceutical residues. As of now, water quality has not yet fully recovered.