Potomac wastewater spill appears to be largest in US history

[mountaineer]

Spanberger cannot be bothered.

Potomac wastewater spill appears to be largest in US history
 by Tara Suter
The Hill (via MSN)
Feb. 12, 2026

A wastewater spill into the Potomac River that began last month now appears to be one of the largest in American history.

DC Water, a local water utility, said in a press release last week that part of a sewer system known as the Potomac Interceptor collapsed along the Clara Barton Parkway on Jan. 19. In that same release, the utility said it “estimates that approximately 243 million gallons of wastewater has overflowed from the collapse site.”

On Monday, DC Water said there had been a “significant overflow” Sunday amid a “high flow period,” with some bypass pumps not in service at the time.

Potomac Riverkeeper Network, a local environmental advocacy group, claimed in a Facebook post Wednesday that the sewage spilled had topped 300 million gallons. ...

Mark Segraves
@SegravesNBC4
Almost 4 weeks after sewage spill put hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into Potomac River, DC issues its strongest warning. “Residents and pets should not touch the Potomac River, or engage in any Potomac recreational activities including fishing”
@nbcwashington
8:47 AM · Feb 12, 2026

[mountaineer]

The Guv is busy "grilling" steaks (the same way Schmuck Schumer did: putting raw meat on a cold grill and pretending it's cooking).

https://twitter.com/NoVA_Campaigns/status/2022077614501093847

[PeteS in CA]

Deferred maintenance?

No secondary containment?

[catfish1957]

Mmmmmmm....

Chesapeake Bay  Crabs......   

[Smokin Joe]

That's tidewater. It will take a long time to flush that out past Cape Charles, and every tributary estuary from that spill to the Atlantic will have issues over fisheries and contact. I can only say I am glad I don't live down there any more. Prayers up for the family and friends who do.

[catfish1957]

That's tidewater. It will take a long time to flush that out past Cape Charles, and every tributary estuary from that spill to the Atlantic will have issues over fisheries and contact. I can only say I am glad I don't live down there any more. Prayers up for the family and friends who do.

Wow, then this could linger for years, much like the North Gulf of America seafood after the BP well leak.  That ditzy dumb blond guv, doesn't have a clue how much long term damage this has caused. 

This much sewage will have obvious E. Coli contam, but that much?  Other water born pathogens may be into play.  And add warmer weather?   

[DefiantMassRINO]

Dukakis let the same thing happen to Boston Harbor.  It's taken decades and billions of dollars to cleanup the Duke's mess.

[Wingnut]

Shitty story.

[Cyber Liberty]

Well, we always considered DeeCee to be a river of shit....

[BobfromWB]

The largest wastewater discharge in Milwaukee's history occurred during the historic 1,000-year flood event from August 9 to 13, 2025, when approximately 5.14 billion gallons of untreated wastewater dwarfing the Potomac spill.

[mountaineer]

Spencer Brown
@SpencerBrown
None of the "leaders" in Virginia (where the wastewater originates), Maryland (through which the pipeline runs) or D.C. (where the sewage is processed) took action to remedy the Potomac calamity.

Remember this when they inevitably lash out at Trump for doing something about it.
3:35 PM · Feb 16, 2026

[Hoodat]

Will they ban oyster harvesting again like they did with kepone back in the 70s?

[rustynail]

'Potomac wastewater spill appears to be largest in US history', that few have heard about. 

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/2022821927753277516

[Smokin Joe]

https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/2022821927753277516

It's up to 300 million now. Problem is, the potomac and all tributaries below The Great Falls is tidewater. It won't just flush out, but works its way back and forth with the tides, too. Expect every fishery from the Tidal Basin to Cape Charles to be shut down for Fecal Coliform and other nasty bugs, and that includes the lower Chesapeake Bay, too.

$100 Billion because Washington DC can't keep its sh*t in a pipe.

[Wingnut]

It shit, is a fire suppressant.  The potamic will not catch on fire.  so there is that.

[rustynail]

President Donald Trump announced that the federal government will now oversee the repair of a destroyed sewer pipe that has sent 250 million gallons of sewage streaming into the Potomac River.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2026/02/16/trump-takes-over-potomac-river-disaster-after-democrat-mismanagement-n2671397

[Hoodat]

Deferred maintenance?

No secondary containment?

Here's your containment:



'Remnants of sewage' including toilet paper, left behind after wastewater pipe collapse
FEB 2026 - DC Water is facing new hurdles as crews continue emergency repairs on the massive sewer line that collapsed in January 2026, sending wastewater into the Potomac River. (7News)

[libertybele]

President Donald Trump announced that the federal government will now oversee the repair of a destroyed sewer pipe that has sent 250 million gallons of sewage streaming into the Potomac River.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2026/02/16/trump-takes-over-potomac-river-disaster-after-democrat-mismanagement-n2671397

250 million gallons of wastewater.  Unbelievable. 

The Potomac River is approximately 405 to 413 miles long, forming a, 14,700-square-mile watershed. It runs from Fairfax Stone, West Virginia, through the Appalachian Mountains and Mid-Atlantic region, serving as the border between Maryland/Washington D.C. and West Virginia/Virginia before draining into the Chesapeake Bay.

Lovely! /s