240 million gallons of sewage spill contaminate Potomac River, officials warn

The river once called “the nation’s river” by George Washington is now off-limits after a massive sewage spill contaminated the waterway.

(NBC)- The river once called “the nation’s river” by George Washington is now off-limits after a massive sewage spill contaminated the waterway.

Officials say a 60-year-old sewage line in Maryland ruptured last month, releasing more than 240 million gallons of raw waste into the Potomac River — the same river that flows past landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The river is popular with boaters, kayakers, and high school and college rowing teams.

Environmental advocates say the stench and damage have been staggering. At the height of the spill, E. coli levels were measured at more than 10,000 times higher than Environmental Protection Agency safety standards.

Although levels are slowly declining, health experts warn that no one should be boating, fishing, or even touching the river until further notice.

Officials with DC Water emphasized that drinking water has not been impacted.

“No, from day one, drinking water has never been impacted by this,” said Sherri Lewis of DC Water.

Repair efforts have been complicated by massive boulders that collapsed into the six-foot-wide pipe, delaying restoration work.

The incident has also sparked political tensions. President Donald Trump blamed Maryland Governor Wes Moore for what he called “gross mismanagement.” Moore pushed back, saying the pipe was federally built and regulated and arguing that the Environmental Protection Agency has been slow to respond.

The growing concern now is how long the Potomac will remain unsafe. Advocates say it could take months before the river fully recovers.