The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice filed separate civil complaints Monday against the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority over a major sewage spill into the Potomac River.

The spill occurred along the Clara Barton section of the Potomac Interceptor, a critical piece of wastewater infrastructure serving the Washington metropolitan area. The interceptor system collapsed, releasing raw sewage directly into the river upstream of the nation's capital.

According to federal regulators, the incident represents one of the largest wastewater spills in U.S. history. The complaints allege that D.C. Water failed to prevent the massive discharge and did not adequately contain the environmental damage once the spill occurred.

Maryland environmental regulators also filed a separate lawsuit against the utility, indicating coordinated legal action by multiple jurisdictions affected by the contamination. The Potomac River serves as a major water source for the Washington region and flows through both Maryland and the District of Columbia.

The legal action seeks to hold D.C. Water accountable for the environmental violation and ensure proper remediation measures are implemented. The utility has not yet publicly responded to the federal and state complaints filed against it.