October 23, 2014 (BALTIMORE, MD) — A sanitary sewer overflow reported by the Baltimore City Department of Public Works on the night of Oct. 22, 2014, stopped after three hours. The estimated rate of flow was 30 gallons per minute, meaning approximately 5,400 gallons of heavily diluted sewage spilled into the Gwynns Falls near the 3400 block of Wilkens Avenue.

An updated sewage overflow notice was filed with the Maryland Department of the Environment. The leak was confirmed by a DPW crew shortly after 6 p.m. The cause of the overflow was attributed to stormwater from the steady rain throughout the day that infiltrated the sanitary sewer system.

Citizens are encouraged to avoid contact with urban streams due to possible pollution.