Washington DC's 240-million-gallon sewage spill from January to March 2026 was the largest in U.S. history, but it's just the visible symptom of a nationwide crisis: the EPA estimates 23,000 to 75,000 sewer overflows happen every year, yet the country has no central tracking system so the real number is unknown. Most U.S. sewer infrastructure was built in the mid-20th century and is now beyond its designed lifespan, creating a ticking clock for aging pipes, pump stations, and treatment plants across the country. The article, written by an environmental planning scholar who advised on infrastructure policy, notes that climate change is making it worse — more intense storms are overwhelming systems that are already at capacity in many cities.