DC Water Sued Over Potomac River Sewage Spill — 250 Million Gallons of Raw Sewage Dumped After Pipeline Collapse

DC Water Potomac River Sewage Spill Class Action Lawsuit 2026

Published: March 11, 2026

Status: Newly Filed — No Settlement

Who may qualify: Property owners, boat owners, businesses within 15 miles downstream

What Is This About?

On January 19, 2026, a 6-foot-wide section of the Potomac Interceptor — a major sewage pipeline running along the Potomac River near the Clara Barton Parkway just north of Washington, D.C. — collapsed. The collapse sent over 250 million gallons of raw, untreated sewage pouring into the Potomac River in what is being described as one of the largest sewage spills in recent U.S. history.

The river was contaminated with E. coli bacteria, making it unsafe for recreation, boating, or any water contact. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser declared an emergency on February 18, and President Trump approved federal emergency assistance days later.

A class action lawsuit was filed on March 6, 2026, against DC Water and Sewer Authority, the owner and operator of the Potomac Interceptor. The lawsuit alleges that DC Water knew the pipeline — first installed in the 1960s — was corroded and deteriorating, had already begun repair work on a nearby section in September 2025, but failed to implement safeguards or emergency plans for the section that collapsed. The pipe that ruptured was scheduled for repair this summer but collapsed first.

The lawsuit was filed by the law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro on behalf of lead plaintiff Dr. Nicholas Lailas, a Virginia physician and boat owner whose 45-foot vessel was contaminated by the spill. He has incurred out-of-pocket costs for decontamination and has been unable to use his boat.

Who Might Qualify?

According to the law firm representing the plaintiff, the proposed class includes people who own or occupy real property within 15 miles downstream of the collapse site, people who own boats moored within 15 miles downstream, and people who incurred costs for business disruption, cleaning, decontamination, or other economic losses as a result of the spill.

The lawsuit also asks the court to order DC Water to repair the collapsed section on an expedited schedule, develop better monitoring for the pipeline, report regularly on repair status, and put interim containment measures in place.

Case Information

Caption: Lailas v. District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, Case No. 8:26-cv-00989
Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Greenbelt)
Filed: March 6, 2026
Plaintiff's Counsel: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
Status: Newly filed — no settlement, no claim form

How Do I Find Class Action Settlements?

Find all the latest class actions you can qualify for by getting notified of new lawsuits as soon as they are open to claims:

Sources

• NBC Washington — Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against DC Water (March 2026)
• Washington Times — Virginia Boat Owner Joins Class Action Against DC Water (March 2026)

Filing Class Action Settlement Claims

This case has not settled and no claim form is available. This page is for informational purposes only. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer advocacy and class action news site, and is not a class action administrator or a law firm.

For more class actions keep scrolling below.