Report on Weekend Sewage/Rainwater Release

Wednesday Aug 3rd, 2016

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

The torrential downpours, that flooded parts of Baltimore, on Saturday, July 30 resulted in a significant release of rainwater mixed with sewer water into the Jones Falls, and a smaller release into the Gwynns Falls. The Department of Public Works reported on these overflows on Sunday, and data has now been analyzed providing the amount of the release from structured outfalls.

Structured outfalls were designed into the system more than 100 years ago to provide such releases when the sewers became inundated with rainwater. The last of these outfalls will be eliminated in a few years after a major hydraulic correction, costing hundreds of millions of dollars, is completed at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Approximately 5.8 million gallons was released, all but approximately 10,000 gallons went into the Jones Falls. The rest entered the Gwynns Falls.

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 more information about health concerns as a result of sewer overflows please go to: http://health.baltimorecity.gov/sanitary-sewer-overflows-sso.

Baltimore City continues renewal of our wastewater system as mandated by a $1 Billion plus Consent Decree with the State and Federal Governments. 

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