Elfreth Joins Maryland & Virginia Members of Congress in Urging Public Transparency, Long-term Response Plan from DC Water

February 18, 2026
Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) and nine additional members of Congress who represent Maryland and Virginia wrote to DC Water CEO and General Manager David Gadis, expressing serious concern over the public health and environmental impacts of the disastrous sewage spill into the Potomac River following the collapse of a major sewer line last month – and called for the utility to take a series of actions and increase public transparency as the response and recovery efforts continue.

Congresswoman Elfreth joins Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Eugene Vindman (VA-05), and James Walkinshaw (VA-11) on this letter.

“We write to express our serious concern around the collapse of the Potomac Interceptor sanitary sewer line that was discovered on January 19 along Clara Barton Parkway and the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal National Historical Park in Montgomery County, Maryland. The failure of this 72-inch diameter pipe, which conveys approximately 60 million gallons of wastewater per day from communities in Maryland and Virginia to the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington, D.C., resulted in a massive discharge of raw, untreated sewage into the Potomac River,” the lawmakers began. “This is one of the largest sewage spills in our country’s history, and its consequences for public health, the environment, and our communities demand a comprehensive and sustained response as well as clear communication with the public.”

They thanked DC water employees and contractors for braving difficult conditions to conduct critical containment and repair work, but also underscored the ongoing risks to the public and the environment in the wake of this disaster, writing, “while we appreciate the ongoing emergency response, we remain deeply concerned about the near-term public health and environmental impacts of this spill. Independent testing conducted by University of Maryland researchers and the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, as well as DC Water’s own testing, have revealed alarming contamination levels in the river, and the full scope of the environmental damage is still not fully understood.”

The lawmakers went on to urge DC Water to commit to the following actions as the repair and recovery work continues:

  • Frequent and transparent public communication;
  • Develop a comprehensive environmental impact assessment and remediation plan;
  • Regular public briefings with opportunities for direct community engagement with DC Water;
  • Continued water quality monitoring through spring and summer; and
  • Ongoing communication with the regional Congressional delegation.

“We are closely monitoring this situation and stand ready to assist in any way we can. Our offices will continue to relay the concerns of our constituents to DC Water and work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure a full and effective response to this crisis. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to your response,” the lawmakers concluded.

Text of the letter can be viewed HERE.

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