BALTIMORE, MD — A slow seep in a North Baltimore sewer main is being addressed by the Baltimore City Department of Public Works, but officials believe the overall discharge now exceeds 10,000 gallons.

Maintenance crews initially responded to the 4600 block of Wilmslow Road on Aug. 13 in response to a routine screening by DPW pollution control analysts that found a discharge into the nearby Stony Run. The Maintenance team found sewage seeping from a 90-year old sanitary sewer line into an adjacent storm line, and repaired a leaking connection to the main.

Pollution control analyst revisited the site after the repair was done and determined that there were additional discharges emanating from the pipe. Maintenance crews have determined that the sewer main needs a comprehensive repair, and are in the process of inspecting the entire pipe segment in order to establish a long solution to the leaking pipe. 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.