The Baltimore City Department of Public Works Announced today that a private contractor, who was not working for Baltimore City, damaged a large sewer line in the Westport area on Kent Street near Sidney Avenue. The flow began late this morning and was approximately 100 gallons per minute.

Crews have been working to divert the flow into another main, and have been using sandbags and other techniques to limit the amount of wastewater entering the storm drain inlets. This work is in progress so overflow totals, including into the Patapsco, are not known at this time.

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.