D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requested federal aid from the Trump administration in cleaning up the massive sewage spill that contaminated the Potomac River.
Ms. Bowser on Wednesday asked President Trump to declare a federal emergency after a critical sewer line ruptured last month and caused about 250 million gallons of untreated waste to flood the river. The Jan. 19 pipe break is considered one of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history.
The mayor sought the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s help with fixing the fractured segment and monitoring the Potomac’s water quality. Researchers from the University of Maryland detected potent amounts of disease-carrying bacteria in the river, especially near the site where the pipe broke.
Ms. Bowser’s request comes after Mr. Trump bashed Democratic leaders in the District, Maryland and Virginia for their passive response to the environmental disaster, but said he would lend a hand if local officials asked “politely.”
DC Water, the utility company that manages the collapsed Potomac Interceptor, said it could take up to 10 months to completely repair the sewer line. The agency created a bypass around the busted pipe that routes waste through the C&O Canal instead.
D.C. officials advised the public not to touch or fish in the water, despite noting that E. coli levels downstream of the open sewer are within a safe range for recreational use.
The District’s Department of Energy and Environment said it wants to seek “multiple consistent test results showing safe levels” before it offers the public any new water guidance. The agency said drinking water, sourced from upriver, is not affected by the spill.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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