DC Water hit with class action lawsuit after Potomac sewage spill

DC Water hit with class action lawsuit

Seven weeks after the Potomac Interceptor collapsed, DC Water is now facing its first lawsuit tied to the sewage spill. 

WASHINGTON - Seven weeks after the Potomac Interceptor collapsed, DC Water is now facing its first lawsuit tied to the sewage spill. Attorneys have filed a proposed class action lawsuit, which must first be certified by a judge before it can move forward.

What we know:

Hundreds of people, including boat owners at Columbia Island Marina, are seeking compensation for damages, Alnwick says. Attorneys for the plaintiffs say marinas, boathouses, outfitters, and nearby property owners were all harmed by the spill.

Alleged damages include cleanup and inspection costs, lost business, diminished property values, and other financial losses.

READ MORE: Potomac sewage spill affecting local industry weeks later

The lawsuit argues DC Water knew the Potomac Interceptor was in poor condition and should have taken interim steps to reduce the risk of a major failure while long‑term rehabilitation work was pending. The section of pipe that collapsed had been scheduled for replacement this summer.

At a press conference last week, DC Water officials said they reviewed past inspections and found no indication the pipe was at imminent risk of collapsing.

To read the full class action lawsuit, you can click here.