Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser declared an emergency on Wednesday and asked President Donald Trump to provide federal resources to help the city respond to a sewage system leak that had discharged untreated wastewater into the Potomac River, according to a press call announcing the action. Bowser’s request targets a federal declaration that would bring additional coordination and potentially speed reimbursement for repairs.
Deputy Mayor Lindsey Appiah, speaking during the announcement, said the city’s top priority was District residents and that Washington would use available resources, including “local, federal, and regional,” to support response operations. She said the city’s emergency declaration is intended to bring in the necessary resources and coordination to repair the leak and secure reimbursement for costs the city and local utility DC Water are spending.
The emergency request asks the president to issue a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration. The declaration would seek full reimbursement for money spent on repairs by the District and DC Water, and it would include provisions aimed at coordinating federal support. Appiah said federal entities exist to support this type of activity.
Among the steps that DC’s declaration would call for is directing FEMA to establish regular interagency coordination calls among federal agencies, affected states, and the District to maintain situational awareness and align federal assistance, according to the announcement. The request also calls on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to join efforts assessing elements of the water and sewage systems, and it includes a request for help from the Small Business Administration if economic impacts emerge.
Bowser’s action followed two days in which Trump criticized how officials handled the spill on Truth Social, with much of his criticism focused on Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. In those posts, Trump argued that local officials had not asked for emergency help and said he intended to step in, while federal officials were already involved in response efforts that included work by the EPA.
The sewage spill began when the Potomac Interceptor ruptured Jan. 19. The leak sent about 250 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River just north of Washington during the first five days, according to DC and the announcement.
DC Water has been working with other agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, to repair the leak and monitor ecological impacts on the river. Officials said the leak is primarily under control, although the repair work on the pipe could take months to complete fully.
Officials also said the drinking water is safe, but they cautioned people who use the Potomac for recreation against having direct contact with the water. The pipeline is a 72-inch system, installed in the 1960s, and the rupture occurred in that interceptor.
Betsy Nicholas, president of the Potomac River Keeper Network, said her organization would welcome federal support. Nicholas said the network’s most urgent needs included clarity on timelines, monitoring data, and coordination among governmental bodies, and she called for funding for analysis of damage to the river ecosystem, including impacts on recreation and business interests.