Pump malfunction causes sewage to back up into Anacostia High School

A sewage backup has forced students at Anacostia High School in Southeast to attend classes temporarily at a nearby middle school.

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Tom Donohue told WTOP-FM that Anacostia High’s students would attend classes Wednesday at Kramer Middle School.

Mr. Donohue explained in a Facebook post that 6 to 10 feet of sewage flooded an elevator shaft and Anacostia High’s basement was under 3 to 6 inches of sewage. The kitchen and cafeteria were also flooded.

The flooding, which also affected at least 10 homes along Fairlawn Avenue SE, occurred Sunday after a malfunction occurred while the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority, or DC Water, worked at a nearby pumping station.

“We deeply regret the inconvenience this has caused and are providing temporary housing for affected residents while the cleanup is completed. Additional steps are being taken to investigate and address the cause of the pump failure and prevent future issues,” a DC Water spokesperson told WTOP.

Anacostia High did open Monday, with its kitchen and cafeteria closed due to the sewage, but the school ended up closing early.

“Due to lingering odors in the building and additional restoration needed, the decision was made to dismiss students early, beginning at noon today. All students received lunch before leaving campus, and staff remained on site until all students had safely departed,” Anacostia High Principal Kenneth Walker told families in a letter Monday, according to WJLA-TV.

Workers are cleaning up the sewage, disinfecting affected areas and ensuring that the air quality inside Anacostia High is safe before students return.