On Friday, January 10th, the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the federal government over the pollution of the Anacostia River, alleging that it has caused “catastrophic harm” to the impoverished and minority communities living along this urban waterway.
The lawsuit claims that since the 1800s, the federal government, which owns and controls the riverbed, has been dumping toxic waste, heavy metals, and chemicals into the river, including the carcinogen PCB, and has refused to clean it up.
The 9-mile long Anacostia River flows through parts of Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Over the decades, it has been treated as a dumping ground for industrial waste, garbage, and stormwater runoff, significantly impacting communities of color.
The lawsuit alleges that PCB from the Washington Navy Yard, hazardous chemicals from the Kenilworth Landfill, and chemical waste from the Federal Printing Office have been poured into the river.
It also accuses the federal government of poorly managing the sewer system in the District of Columbia, resulting in untreated sewage and toxic waste being discharged into the river.
According to the lawsuit, the pollution has led to residents being banned from swimming in the river and cautioned against fishing in it.
The federal government is characterized as the major polluter, systematically contaminating the river through careless dumping and emissions of harmful substances, as well as destructive dredging and landfill operations.
Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb stated that pollutants in the river do not break down and pose long-term risks to the environment, aquatic wildlife, and human health, including cancer, neurological and developmental disorders, and birth defects.
The District of Columbia is seeking payment from the federal government to cover the costs of river clean-up.
At the time of the lawsuit filing, significant progress had been made in cleaning up the river in Washington D.C., with residents once again able to fish and boat in the river. Wildlife such as bald eagles, ospreys, herons, kingfishers, and eels continue to thrive in the area.
According to DC Water, the $3.29 billion sewer upgrade project, including drilling a series of tunnels underground to collect stormwater and sewage, has reduced sewage entering the river by 91%. The final segment of the Anacostia Tunnel System went into operation in 2023, with the entire system expected to reduce overflows by 98%.
Utility company Pepco reached an agreement with the District of Columbia to pay over $57 million for addressing the harmful chemicals it has discharged into the soil, groundwater, and stormwater pipes from its power plants over decades, which have polluted the Anacostia River and surrounding areas. It is believed to be the largest settlement agreement in the company’s history.
Some of the compensation will be used for river clean-up efforts. Experts note that other measures taken by the city government since 2009, such as imposing fees on plastic bags, have also helped prevent trash from entering the river.
Despite these efforts, the Anacostia River remains polluted. A non-profit organization has rated the river’s health based on fecal bacteria levels and aquatic plant conditions, and the Anacostia River was deemed failing in 2023, marking the third time in the past six years.
(References from Associated Press)