WASHINGTON (March 16, 2026) – In January, roughly 200 million gallons of wastewater spilled into the Potomac River after a major pipe collapsed near Cabin John, Maryland. The collapse released high levels of fecal bacteria into the river, including E. coli and staphylococcal pathogens, raising concerns about water safety in the D.C. region.
While contamination levels are beginning to decline, the incident highlights a foundational issue, which is aging infrastructure that leaves the region’s drinking water supply vulnerable to failures.
Experts at the George Washington University are available to discuss how wastewater failures impact river ecosystems and human health, why current infrastructure is struggling to keep up, and novel solutions that may help to prevent incidents in the future. To schedule an interview, please contact gwmediat
gwu [dot] edu.
Public Health
Lynn R. Goldman is a professor of environmental and occupational health and the former Dean of the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. She is a pediatrician, epidemiologist, a nationally known environmental health expert and previously served as an assistant administrator for Toxic Substances at the EPA, overseeing the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. She can talk about the hazards of water contamination when it comes to health.
Solutions
Lulupoo, a company founded by GW student Lilla Reinsertson, develops dog waste bags which dissolve completely when flushed, allowing waste to move through the sewage treatment system as intended rather than clogging the aging infrastructure. As DC Water has urged residents to be mindful of what they flush, Lulupoo offers a responsible alternative to traditional dog waste bags. If you’re interested in speaking with Reinertson to learn more about her work or the Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership class, led by Kathy Korman Frey, where she developed this concept, please contact Senior Media Relations Specialist Claire Sabin (claire [dot] sabingwu [dot] edu (claire[dot]sabin[at]gwu[dot]edu)).
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