Sewage Flows Toward Washington As Accountability Flows Away

We know what it means when it hits the fan, but how about floating downstream?

Raw sewage is flowing into the Potomac River upstream from our nation’s capital after a major infrastructure failure sent untreated waste into one of the most politically and symbolically important waterways in the country.

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There are myriad risks associated with raw sewage, including public health, environmental damage, and an uncomfortable political message. Washington depends on systems it often neglects.

Local officials confirmed that millions of gallons of untreated politics — oops, I meant sewage — entered the river following a breakdown at a wastewater treatment facility that serves parts of Maryland. The discharge occurred north of the capital, upstream of communities, recreation areas, and ecosystems, posing substantial risks.

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