The District of Columbia has initiated legal action against the federal government, asserting that pollution in the Anacostia River has caused severe damage to predominantly low-income and minority neighborhoods situated alongside the urban waterway.
According to the lawsuit, the federal government has owned and managed the riverbed since the 1800s, during which time it has allegedly disposed of toxic waste, heavy metals, and hazardous chemicals, including harmful PCBs, without addressing the resulting contamination. This 9-mile (14-kilometer) river, which runs through Washington, D.C. and parts of Maryland, has a long history of being treated as a dumping ground for industrial debris, storm sewer discharges, and general refuse, disproportionately impacting communities of color.
The legal complaint points out that PCBs from the Washington Navy Yard, along with dangerous chemicals from the Kenilworth Landfill and toxic waste from federal printing plants, were introduced into the river. Additionally, it accuses the federal government of mismanaging the sewer system in D.C., leading to the release of raw sewage and hazardous materials into the waterway.
As a result of this pollution, swimming has been prohibited, and there are health advisories regarding fishing in the river, with the lawsuit naming the federal government as the primary source of pollution. The legal documentation asserts that the government has continuously contaminated the river through careless dumping and dredging activities that have exacerbated the issue.
The Justice Department has not provided a response to requests for comments regarding the lawsuit.
Brian Schwalb, the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, emphasized the detrimental effects of pollutants in the river, which do not easily decompose and pose long-term risks to the environment, aquatic life, and human health, including significant health issues such as cancer and developmental disorders.
The District of Columbia is calling for the federal government to finance extensive cleanup efforts for the Anacostia River. This lawsuit arises amidst the city’s ongoing initiatives to restore the river’s health, aiming to bring back a time when residents were able to fish and boat, and wildlife like bald eagles and kingfishers flourished in the area.
Significant upgrades to the sewer infrastructure, costing approximately $3.29 billion, have included the construction of tunnels beneath the city to manage storm and sewage water, resulting in a 91% reduction in overflows into the river, according to DC Water, the city’s water utility. The final segment of the Anacostia Tunnel System became operational in 2023, with expectations to cut overflows by 98%.
In a notable agreement, Pepco, the city’s electricity provider, has committed to paying over $57 million for past discharges of hazardous substances into the environment, which affected the Anacostia River and surrounding areas. This settlement is considered one of the largest in the utility’s history. The funds will support cleanup projects, alongside other city initiatives like the implementation of a plastic bag fee in 2009, which have contributed to reducing litter.
Despite these advancements, the Anacostia River continues to face pollution issues. In 2023, it received a failing rating for the third time in six years from a nonprofit organization that assesses river health based on levels of fecal bacteria and conditions of aquatic vegetation.
