Attorney General Brown Files Lawsuit Against DC Water Over Potomac Interceptor Collapse

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Complaint Seeks Compensation and Penalties for Damage Caused by Sewage Spill 

  
BALTIMORE, MD – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and the Maryland Department of the Environment today filed a lawsuit against DC Water seeking penalties and damages for costs associated with contamination of the Potomac River caused by a historic sewage discharge and a court order requiring full restoration of the site. 
  
The complaint stems from the January 19, 2026 rupture of a 72-inch section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line in Montgomery County near the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, which released an estimated 240 million gallons of raw sewage over eight days into the Potomac River and its tributaries. The suit alleges that DC Water was aware that the over half-century-old Potomac Interceptor showed signs of corrosion yet failed to properly assess the risks and delayed initiating capital improvements. 
“Millions of gallons of raw sewage in the Potomac River does not just disappear, it damages ecosystems and harms communities, and it demands accountability," said Attorney General Brown. “DC Water knew this aging infrastructure was corroding, yet it delayed repairs and failed in its duty to protect this treasured waterway, failures that we allege constitute gross negligence. We are going to court to make sure they make it right for Marylanders."

“The Potomac River belongs to the people of Maryland, and we expect it to be fully restored to health," said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain. “The utility must take full responsibility for the damage caused and take immediate and lasting action to prevent future spills. The river is part of our identity, our economy, and our way of life."
  
The complaint, filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court, alleges DC Water violated state water pollution laws through unauthorized discharges. Maryland is asking the court to impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for each violation, order DC Water to pay for all environmental testing and cleanup costs, cover damages for the lost value of the state's natural resources, and issue an order to permanently stop any future unauthorized sewage discharges. 
  

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