Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reported

Tuesday Sep 13th, 2016

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

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works estimates that 194,000 gallons of sanitary sewer/rain water was released from a structured overflow at 1901 Falls Road that occurred on the afternoon of Saturday, September 10. This occurred following a brief but intense downpour of rain that occurred that same day.

Structured overflows were designed into the City’s sewer system more than 100 years ago to provide such releases when the sewers became inundated with rainwater. They are being eliminated as part of the City’s sewer system consent decree.

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

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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