BALTIMORE, MD (June 27, 2014) – This past winter was a particularly difficult one for Department of Public Works Utility Maintenance crews and support staff. Extremely cold temperatures for prolonged periods meant that water mains and water service lines were subjected to an excessive number of breaks and leaks. In January alone there were over 300 water main breaks.

In order to address these, workers had to brave the cold and ice in order to make sure that citizens would not face long water outages. In addition, crews worked extended shifts for weeks at a time to accomplish these tasks. Both Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E. took note of these heroic efforts during a February press conference on the cold temperature’s impact on water service.

Today these workers will gather together at 1 p.m. at the Haven Street Water Maintenance Facility, 804 N. Haven Street, to celebrate a job well done. Bureau of Water and Wastewater Supervisors and staff have prepared a feast appropriate for the appetites of these deserving hard-working men and women.

Well done!