Beyond the Potomac Spill: How Infrastructure Stewardship Shapes Compliance Risk
The recent sewage spill into the Potomac River began with the structural collapse of a 72-inch interceptor sewer line built in the early 1960s — a major trunk line carrying wastewater toward regional treatment facilities. The failure released hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated sewage before emergency bypass pumping could be installed. Response efforts continue, with federal assistance joining local and state crews. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has supported stabilization and site protection. Investigations into the cause remain underway. Even so, public debate has already shifted toward assigning responsibility — with elected officials, river advocates, and commentators pointing fingers across agencies and jurisdictions. At the same time, the utilities and government entities involved have pivoted toward cooperation under established interjurisdictional agreements and defined operational roles. More than simply a news story, this is a case study in how regional system de...