Sewage spill continues as Trump approves emergency declaration

Washington (ANTARA) - US President Donald Trump on Saturday approved an emergency declaration for Washington, D.C., following the collapse of a sewer line and ongoing sewage spills contaminating the Potomac River.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced in a press release that federal disaster assistance is available to the District of Columbia to support emergency response efforts resulting from the sewage pipe failure since 19 January.

“The President’s action authorises FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on local residents and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, protect property, public health and safety, and to reduce or avert the threat of a disaster,” FEMA said, adding that the assistance covers the District of Columbia and areas under its responsibility in the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser on Friday (20 February) reaffirmed that drinking water has not been affected by the sewage spill in the Potomac River.

On 19 January, a section of the Potomac Interceptor, the main sewage pipe operated by DC Water, collapsed and released more than 200 million gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River. Bowser declared the month-long sewage spill in the Potomac River a local public emergency on 18 February in order to request federal support.