Delegate Lopez warns of major sewage spills, cites $15.8 billion infrastructure shortfall
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Summary
On the House floor Delegate Lopez described recent large sewage spills into the Potomac and cited an ASCE estimate that Virginia's drinking‑water and wastewater systems need $15.8 billion in capital investment, urging action amid federal funding uncertainty.
RICHMOND — During floor remarks on Feb. 24, Delegate Lopez used a point of personal privilege to urge attention to aging water and wastewater infrastructure in the Commonwealth, citing recent major spills and an engineering estimate of unmet capital needs.
"A month ago, approximately 243,000,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the Potomac River following pipeline breaches in Maryland and Washington DC," Lopez said in the chamber. He emphasized that while "drinking water in Virginia is thankfully safe," the environmental and public‑health impacts of untreated sewage remain significant and incompletely known.
Lopez cited the American Society of Civil Engineers' estimate that "Virginia's drinking water and wastewater systems alone need a combined $15,800,000,000 in capital investment," and warned that the federal share of funding for water infrastructure has fallen sharply over decades. He called the recurring spills and federal funding uncertainty "scary" and urged lawmakers to act to modernize systems that protect waterways and communities.
The remarks came during a day when the House considered a long list of bills and heard budget‑week procedural announcements; Lopez framed the infrastructure concern as one that cuts across public health, economic activity and environmental protection and said the issue requires continued state and federal attention.
No immediate floor debate or formal response was recorded in the transcript following Lopez's remarks; members later continued with the calendar of bills and ceremonial resolutions.
