Justin O'Neill

The emergency declaration enables President Trump to direct federal funds to cover repair costs and needed improvements to water treatment infrastructure that serves residents of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Deputy Mayor Lindsay Appiah says it's uncertain how much the repairs will ultimately cost.

Today marks one month since the pipe burst, spilling an estimated 243 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River.

DC Water says the spill has been contained to a nearby canal, but complete repair of the broken sewage pipe is still weeks away.

For NPR News, I'm Justin O'Neill.