• Washington declares emergency after major sewage spill
• Bacteria threatens Potomac River and residents

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a citywide emergency following a massive sewage leak and requested White House assistance after the Trump administration criticized local officials’ handling of the crisis.

The spill occurred about a month after a pipe carrying sewage from the U.S. capital and parts of neighboring Maryland and Virginia burst, releasing hundreds of millions of liters of waste into the Potomac River.

Scientists warned of dangerously high concentrations of bacteria, including E. coli, in affected waters, posing risks to the river’s health and residents who rely on it for drinking water.

Mayor Bowser requested a presidential disaster declaration to secure federal funding and full reimbursement for the costs incurred by the city and the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt accused Maryland Governor Wes Moore of neglecting the 60-year-old pipe and warned that federal intervention could prevent an environmental disaster.

Donald Trump had earlier posted a sharp warning on Truth Social to authorities in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington: “If they can’t do the job, they must call me and ask politely for help.”

Governor Moore responded on X, noting the pipe is on federal land and accusing the administration of falsely shifting blame, adding that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was invited to a meeting on infrastructure repairs but declined.

Emergency repairs are expected to take four to six weeks, followed by a full rehabilitation of the pipe. Authorities cautioned residents against contact with Potomac waters but confirmed that the region’s drinking water remains safe.