WASHINGTON
A major sewer pipe has ruptured northwest of Washington, D.C., spewing millions of gallons of raw sewage daily into the Potomac River and creating an urgent environmental and public health crisis as crews race to make repairs ahead of a severe winter storm.
The 72-inch (183-centimeter) diameter pipe collapsed late Monday, sending wastewater gushing into the river. DC Water estimates the overflow at about 40 million gallons per day—enough to fill 66 Olympic-sized swimming pools—though the total volume since the breach began is still unknown.
“Oh, my god, the smell is horrific,” said Dean Naujoks, the Potomac Riverkeeper. “It’s such high concentrations of sewage that just grabbing a sample is a public health risk.”
Utility crews are working to install pumps to divert the sewage flow away from the rupture so repairs can begin. DC Water has warned the public to avoid the area and to wash thoroughly if they come into contact with the water.
The spill threatens the Potomac ecosystem and downstream water quality just as a powerful storm approaches, complicating cleanup efforts and raising the stakes for containment.
By James Kisoo
