Downpour Leads to Sewer Overflows

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

The major storms of last night, Thursday, August 22, caused a sewer overflow of almost 7.8 million gallons of storm water mixed with sewer water into Herring Run, and over 830 thousand gallons into the Jones Falls. This overflows were recorded at four underground overflow structures along the Jones Falls, and at a manhole on Herring Run, just off of Belair Road.

Data on all sanitary sewer overflows in available on DPW’s interactive online sanitary sewer overflow map.

The public is advised to avoid direct contact with the receiving waters impacted by these or any other overflow.  Waterways throughout Baltimore City are considered impaired, and may not meet applicable standards for contact recreation, including swimming, regardless of the impact of a specific sewer overflow.  Accordingly, the City discourages body contact with all surface waters. Click here for additional information regarding potential health impacts, or call 410-396-4428. For additional information pertaining to a specific overflow, please call the Baltimore City Department of Public Works at 410-545-6541.

Baltimore continues to rapidly improve our sewer system as part of a $2 Billion Consent Decree Program.

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