DOJ, Maryland Head to Court to Make 'It Right for Marylanders'

Key Points:

• The Justice Department has sued the District of Columbia and DC Water for neglect leading to a January collapse of a key sewage pipe, which spilled over 240 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the Potomac River.
• Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown filed a separate state lawsuit seeking penalties for pollutants discharged into the river, including E. coli and mercury, aiming to recover up to $10,000 per day for violations.
• Federal inspections dating back to 2011 revealed severe corrosion in the pipeline, with one segment losing over 5 inches of wall thickness by late 2024 and repairs delayed despite imminent failure warnings.
• DC Water is already engaged in a $625 million rehabilitation project for the aging pipeline but cites environmental review delays and states it acted swiftly to contain the spill, with water quality now reportedly restored downstream.
• Officials emphasize the need for cities to invest in wastewater infrastructure to prevent such environmental disasters, with Maryland seeking accountability and stronger maintenance commitments from DC Water.