Yesterday’s Heavy Rains Infiltrated Lines

The Department of Public Works announced that torrential rains contributed to sanitary sewer overflows at the flowing locations on Thursday, March 10th:

• 401 E. Eager St.
• 1000 N. Durham St. at E. Eager Street
• 4700 Hamilton Ave.
• 1700 block E. Chase St.
• 1500 block N. Charles St. (Penn Station garage)
• 1900 Falls Road

The Department of Public Works issues public notices when such spills exceed 10,000 gallons. All of these locations have well-exceeded that amount and total overflow estimates are still being calculated.

The cause is related to infiltration of rainwater into the sewer lines. It is anticipated that recurring overflow problems at some of these locations will be partially alleviated this year as downstream lines undergo a massive cleaning to improve flow. Additional evaluation of these locations for corrective action is underway.

The Maryland Department of the Environment and the Baltimore City Health Department have been notified. For more information about health concerns as a result of the overflows, contact the Health Department at (410)396-4422.

The Department of Public Works is undertaking a $1 billion rehabilitation of the City’s sanitary system which will protect our urban streams and the Chesapeake Bay while preventing future sewer overflows.