US President Donald Trump approved the introduction of a state of emergency in Washington due to the ingress of sewage from the city sewer into the Potomac River.
As reported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), this gives the agency the authority to coordinate all actions of local authorities to counteract the consequences of emergencies, as well as to provide assistance to the population.
In mid-January, as a result of a sewer pipe break in Maryland, 886 thousand cubic meters of wastewater entered the capital's Potomac River. Downstream from the scene of the incident are the Washington water intake facilities, which are currently closed.
In February, the head of the US administration noted that a large-scale environmental disaster was unfolding in Maryland and accused the state leadership of incompetence.