UPDATE -- Underground Sewer Overflow Stopped

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

This past Friday, May 6, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works reported that a sanitary sewer had overflowed into the Jones Falls. The overflow stopped around 5:00 p.m. that same day. On Monday, May 9, the total release was estimated to be 46,000 gallons.

This incident occurred underground, from a “structured” overflow system in East Baltimore, and did not spill onto any streets. Such structured overflows were designed as part of Baltimore’s sewer system over 100 years ago, but are being eliminated as part of the City’s $1 billion Consent Decree sewer rehabilitation. Structured overflows release the excess wastewater, which mostly consists of rainwater that enters the sewer mains during heavy downpours.

No other significant overflows were reported as a result of the recent rains.

The Baltimore City Health Department and the Maryland Department of the Environment were notified of this event.

Typically, but especially during times of heavy, prolonged rain, the public is urged not to come into contact with urban streams because of the possibility that pollutants have been washed into them. Permanent signs to this effect are posted along our urban streams.

Related Stories

DPW to Start Trash and Recycling Collections at 5:00 a.m. During Summer Months Earlier Start Time Aims to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat –Seasonal Change Begins Tuesday, July 8

To protect sanitation workers from the dangers of extreme summer heat, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) will begin trash and recycling collections one hour earlier—starting at 5:00 a.m.—beginning Tuesday, July 8. This seasonal adjustment will run through Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

DPW Offices and Sanitation Yards Closed for Independence Day

Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Khalil Zaied reminds residents that Friday, July 4, 2025, is Independence Day, a City holiday. As a result, all DPW offices and sanitation yards will be CLOSED in observance of the holiday. There will be no trash or recycling collections on Friday, July 4. Collections will resume on the makeup day, Saturday, July 5, 2025. Additionally, there will be no street sweeping due to the holiday closure.

DPW Releases 2024 Water Quality Report

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) today announced the release of its 2024 Water Quality Report, providing residents in Baltimore City and Baltimore County with important information about the quality of their drinking water.