Downpour Leads to Sewer Overflows

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

The major storms of last night, Thursday, August 22, caused a sewer overflow of almost 7.8 million gallons of storm water mixed with sewer water into Herring Run, and over 830 thousand gallons into the Jones Falls. This overflows were recorded at four underground overflow structures along the Jones Falls, and at a manhole on Herring Run, just off of Belair Road.

Data on all sanitary sewer overflows in available on DPW’s interactive online sanitary sewer overflow map.

The public is advised to avoid direct contact with the receiving waters impacted by these or any other overflow.  Waterways throughout Baltimore City are considered impaired, and may not meet applicable standards for contact recreation, including swimming, regardless of the impact of a specific sewer overflow.  Accordingly, the City discourages body contact with all surface waters. Click here for additional information regarding potential health impacts, or call 410-396-4428. For additional information pertaining to a specific overflow, please call the Baltimore City Department of Public Works at 410-545-6541.

Baltimore continues to rapidly improve our sewer system as part of a $2 Billion Consent Decree Program.

Related Stories

NOW AVAILABLE: DPW’s 2023 Water Quality Report

Today, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) is announcing that its 2023 Water Quality Report is available online. This annual report provides Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County residents with important information about where the City’s drinking water comes from, what chemicals it contains, and how it meets federal standards for tap water. In this report, DPW highlights our employees who monitor and treat the water from the City’s reservoirs, Loch Raven, Liberty, and Prettyboy, and take steps to safeguard the water throughout the distribution process.

DPW Offices, Sanitation Yards Closed on Independence Day , Thursday, July 4

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Acting Director Khalil Zaied reminds residents that Independence Day will be observed on Thursday, July 4, 2024. As a City-observed holiday, DPW offices and sanitation yards will be CLOSED. The Independence Day closure WILL impact weekly trash and recycling collections. Trash and recycling makeup day is Saturday, July 6, 2024. There will be NO street sweeping during the Independence Day closure.  

DPW Offices, Sanitation Yards Closed on Juneteenth City of Baltimore to Observe Juneteenth, Wednesday, June 19

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Acting Director Khalil Zaied reminds residents that Juneteenth will be observed on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. As a City-observed holiday, DPW offices and sanitation yards will be CLOSEDTrash and recycling collections WILL NOT take place on the Juneteenth holiday closure. The trash and recycling make-up day is Saturday, June 22. There will be NO street sweeping during the Juneteenth closure.