Washington DC’s 240 million-gallon sewage spill is a symptom of nationwide trouble

The largest sewage spill in US history wasn’t the first, and it won’t be the last.

By: Marccus D. Hendricks, University of Maryland, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 16, 2026

Words: 1,303

Last Updated: 3 months, 2 weeks ago

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By Marccus D. Hendricks, University of Maryland

When 240 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., starting in mid-January 2026 and running though mid-March, it was estimated to be the largest sewage spill in U.S. history. But it wasn’t the first, nor will it be the last.

In fact, around the nation, sewage spills are contaminating waterways and communities with unsettling frequency. Sewer systems are designed to be …

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