BALTIMORE, MD — A slow, seeping leak from a sanitary sewer main in the 5100 block of Falls Road in North Baltimore is being addressed by the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW). DPW officials believe that the overall volume discharge now exceeds 10,000 gallons.
 
Maintenance crews initially responded on Friday, Sept. 16, in response to a routine screening by DPW pollution control analysts that found a discharge into the Jones Falls. The Maintenance team found sewage seeping from a 90-year-old sanitary sewer line along Springhouse Path into an adjacent storm line, and performed a repair to the leaking pipe segment.
 
Pollution control analysts revisited the site after the repair was done and determined that there were additional discharges emanating from the pipe. After inspecting the entire sanitary sewer line segment, maintenance crews determined that the sewer main needs a comprehensive repair, and are in the process of replacing the main. Because of the length of time of the seepage, the total overflow has almost certainly exceeded 10,000 gallons.
 
The public is reminded that because of the likelihood of pollution, urban waterways are considered unsafe and should not be used for swimming, wading, or recreation.
 
Baltimore City is in the construction phase of a $1 billion Consent Decree program to rehabilitate our sewer infrastructure which will help to reduce sewer overflows.