DPW Reports Eight Sewer Overflows Related to Weekend Heavy Rain

Tuesday Jun 5th, 2018

Green banner with DPW logo and text "Department of Public Works Press Release"

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) estimates that overflows of over 10,000 gallons of stormwater occurred at eight (8) locations, as a result of the heavy rains on Sunday, June 3. These overflows affected the Jones Falls and Gwynns Falls watersheds.

Overflows occurred at the following locations. All locations were structured overflows except for the last one:

1901 Falls Road – 1,471,000 gallons (1.5 million gallons)
428 E. Preston Street – 4,779,000 gallons (4.8 million gallons)
3104 Liberty Heights Avenue – 26,000 gallons
W. Cold Spring Lane and Ayrdale Avenue – 50,000 gallons
W. Garrison Avenue and Queensbury Road – 129,000 gallons
3404 Glen Avenue – 35,000 gallons
Charing Cross Road and Greenwich Avenue – 53,000 gallons
Western Run Drive and Bonnie View Drive – 72,000 gallons

The structured sewer overflow locations are among several in the City that have been outfitted with emergency notification equipment that lets officials know when a sewer manhole is overflowing. DPW crews are able to respond and monitor these locations, and block streets so that cars and pedestrians do not traverse the polluted water.

These latest reported releases come following notifications last week of overflows, stormwater mixed with sewage, that had been released into streams and waterways.  These overflows were the result of heavy rains. The Baltimore City Health Department and the Maryland Department of the Environment were notified of the sewage releases.

As a reminder, citizens who experience basement sewage backups as a result of rain events are encouraged to take advantage of the city’s Expedited Reimbursement Program (ERP).  This program is to reimburse residents and property owners for cleanup costs related sewage backups caused by wet weather.  Application and eligibility information can be found at this link https://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/sewer-consent-decree/building-backups. Please note that this program is NOT designed for costs related to flood damage, hurricanes, or other extreme weather events.

The public is reminded to avoid contact with urban waterways due to the risk of pollution. For information about health concerns as a result of sewer overflows please go to http://health.baltimorecity.gov/sanitary-sewer-overflows-sso.

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