Trump approves federal help for Potomac River cleanup

President Trump authorized FEMA to supplement response efforts after a sewer line collapse released large amounts of untreated wastewater into the Potomac River; Mayor Muriel Bowser had declared a local emergency and requested federal assistance.

President Donald Trump approved federal assistance to support cleanup of the Potomac River after a sewer line collapse in Montgomery County, Maryland. The collapse in mid‑January released large amounts of untreated wastewater into the river and nearby waterways, prompting public-health monitoring and recreational advisories. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a local public emergency and formally requested federal support and a major disaster declaration. Federal officials have begun coordinating with local and state agencies to supplement response work. Key facts about the response: - A section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line collapsed on January 19, sending hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated wastewater into the Potomac and adjacent waterways, according to DC Water estimates. - State and local health agencies reported elevated levels of fecal bacteria in affected stretches and issued recreational water advisories, and public health officials have reported no evidence that drinking water systems were affected. - Mayor Bowser issued a 15-day local public emergency and requested federal assistance and a major disaster declaration to support cleanup and coordination. - President Trump authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to supplement response efforts and named Mark K. O'Hanlon as the Federal Coordinating Officer for the area. Summary: FEMA's authorization allows the agency to identify and mobilize equipment and resources to assist local and state responders, with a federal coordinator overseeing operations. Recovery and repair work are ongoing and officials say it will take additional weeks to bring larger equipment and address damage as cleanup continues.