The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority is facing mounting scrutiny after what officials describe as one of the largest sewage spills in American history — a crisis that has triggered political backlash, federal attention, and renewed questions about agency leadership.
Nearly 300 million gallons of untreated sewage have reportedly flowed into the Potomac River over the past month, contaminating waters in the nation’s capital. President Donald Trump called the situation “a massive ecological disaster,” blaming what he described as “gross mismanagement” by local Democratic leadership and directing federal authorities to intervene.
At the center of the controversy is DC Water CEO David L. Gadis, who has led the utility since 2018. During his tenure, Gadis has emphasized equity and diversity initiatives, including expanded contracting opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses and a program called “Lead-Free DC,” aimed at eliminating lead service lines in the district.
Under DC Water’s amended Business Development Plan, disadvantaged and women-owned enterprises received approximately 38.65% of total contract awards in fiscal year 2024 — roughly $520 million out of nearly $1.33 billion. The authority also established a Business Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council and implemented bidding preferences aligned with federal “Fair Share” objectives previously encouraged by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Critics now argue that while such initiatives were prioritized, critical infrastructure oversight may have faltered.
The spill began nearly a month ago. On February 9, DC Water acknowledged it had significantly underreported E. coli contamination levels — by more than 100 times, according to reporting from the Daily Caller. The agency has not publicly detailed how the miscalculation occurred.
Gadis’ prior career is also drawing renewed attention. Before joining DC Water, he served as executive vice president of Veolia North America and CEO of Veolia Water Indianapolis. Veolia later became embroiled in litigation connected to the Flint, Michigan water crisis. An amended class action lawsuit cited company assurances regarding water safety. Emails disclosed during litigation indicated internal discussions about potential lead concerns. Veolia ultimately contributed $79.3 million toward settlements while maintaining it stood behind its work. Gadis joined DC Water before the settlement was finalized.
DC Water had previously been recognized as a global model in water management, earning a strong reputation within the utility sector. Gadis himself was named one of the “10 Most Influential Black Corporate Leaders of 2022” by CIO Views, in part for expanding equity-focused programs within the authority.
In April, the EPA suspended its Fair Share objectives following pressure from the Trump administration. Although no longer federally mandated, DC Water’s website continues to list multi-year contracting participation goals for minority and women-owned businesses.
The utility has not responded to media inquiries regarding whether those goals remain active policy or how they may intersect with infrastructure oversight.
