D.C. mayor asks Trump for help with Potomac River sewage spill

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 asked President Trump on Wednesday 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 plea also allows the District to be reimbursed more quickly for costs associated with repairing the busted pipe and removing waste from the river.

At a press event Thursday, Ms. Bowser argued that her local emergency declaration — made nearly a month to the day after the spill — was not indicative of her administration brushing off the disaster.

“It’s not as straightforward as you, or others, may think in terms of getting approval for a declaration for a project outside of your jurisdiction,” she said. “The president rightly signaled that they could be helpful, especially financially helpful. Nothing about the [technical] response changes because of the declaration.”

The White House has yet to comment on Ms. Bowser’s request.

Ms. Bowser made the overture after Mr. Trump bashed Democratic leaders in the District, Maryland and Virginia for their passive response to the spill, but added that 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.