MONTGOMERY CO., MD — A lawsuit was filed Monday against the DC Water utility over the major January spill that saw millions of gallons of wastewater flow into the Potomac River.
A 32-page complaint was filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and the Maryland Department of the Environment.
The filing centers around the Jan. 19 collapse of a 72-inch section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line near the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
The sewer line runs through a portion of Montgomery County but is owned and operated by DC Water. Officials announced in March that operations were restored at the interceptor.
Officials estimate the break resulted in some 240 million gallons of raw sewage being dumped into the Potomac River and its tributaries over an eight-day period.
Maryland alleges DC Water not only violated state water pollution laws but that the utility knew about the faulty infrastructure for decades and failed to address the issues.
Related: Repairs To Potomac Interceptor Officially Complete
“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 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.”
In addition to asking the court to impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for each violation, the state is also seeking:
“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.”
Before the sewer line break, DC Water was planning on carrying out its repairs to the interceptor in June. The firm has said it was not aware of any risks for imminent danger, which would have prompted the utility to act sooner.
A class-action lawsuit was previously filed in early March against DC Water by a group of land and vessel owners who argued their "property interests in and use and enjoyment" of the waterway were impaired.
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