Reuters reports that President Donald Trump has directed federal authorities to assume control over the response to a the spill in Washington, D.C.'s Potomac River, designating FEMA to coordinate the cleanup efforts. The intervention follows the Jan. 19 collapse of a major sewer line, which has since released over 240 million gallons of wastewater into the river.
The announcement comes amidst sharp criticism from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who accused the administration of failing to act sooner and noted the EPA's absence at a recent legislative hearing on the crisis. While the EPA stated it had deferred to local utilities for the initial response, President Trump’s directive aims to assert federal management.
Explosion and Fire Reported at Delaware WWTP
A two-alarm fire and explosion erupted in the early morning of Feb. 17 at a wastewater treatment facility in Wilmington, Delaware, reports CBS News. Approximately 75 emergency personnel responded to the plant on Hay Street around 4:30 a.m., where they encountered heavy smoke emanating from an industrial dryer and its connected machinery.
During the operation, a subsequent explosion forced firefighters to evacuate the structure and battle the flames from the exterior, eventually bringing the blaze under control after about 90 minutes. Despite the building suffering extensive fire damage, officials reported no injuries. Authorities also confirmed that the incident did not disrupt the facility's daily operations, nor did it result in any contamination of the local water supply.
Valentine's Day WWTP Tours Sell Out in Maine
Valentine's Day tours of a wastewater treatment plant in Bath, Maine, recently sold out, according to WMTW News. The facility's superintendent, Bryan Levitt, was initially skeptical about the appeal of touring a wastewater treatment plant on Valentine's Day, admitting he thought the idea was "crazy."
But to his surprise, the community responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, snapping up tickets for three separate tours within 24 hours of the announcement. The concept originated from a suggestion by the filmmaker of a documentary, which had already sparked local curiosity about the critical infrastructure.
