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News in English (USA) / 14.02.2026 / 18:00

Massive Sewage Spill in Potomac River Raises Health Concerns

The Potomac River is currently facing one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history due to a significant wastewater pipe collapse. Authorities have issued warnings to avoid contact with the water as the situation continues to deteriorate, leading to rising health risks, especially with pathogens like E. coli detected at alarming levels. The DC Water CEO has addressed the community, highlighting the ongoing challenges in repairing the broken infrastructure, which may take up to ten months to completely resolve. Meanwhile, non-disposable wipes have exacerbated the situation by clogging pumps at the spill site. Maryland lawmakers have initiated inquiries into the ecological impacts of this incident, while officials from the Virginia Department of Health have issued advisories covering a 72.5-mile stretch of the river. With ice melting and warmer temperatures approaching, the risk of contamination is expected to increase, prompting urgent calls for faster response actions.
Axios, WJLA, NBC4 Washington, WTOP, ARLnow, DC Water, Bethesda Magazine, The Hill, Virginia Department of Health (.gov), FOX 5 DC