‘This isn’t just a City of Richmond problem’: Environmentalists sound alarm on James River after Potomac sewage spill

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond environmentalists are calling for changes to city wastewater and sewage systems to protect the James River. This after a leak in January that dumped 250 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River, the largest wastewater spill in U.S. history.

According to James River Keeper Tom Dunlap, 3.6 billion gallons of untreated storm and wastewater entered the James River in 2025. Ten percent of that combined water is untreated wastewater which includes gray water and sewage.

Dunlap said pathogens in that water can cause huge concerns for human health…

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