The Jones Falls incidents occurred underground in structured overflows in the 400 block of East Preston Street and the 1900 block of Falls Road.
The Jones Falls watershed encompasses 40 square miles including rural segments of Baltimore County at its upper reaches. The headwaters of the Jones Falls begin in Greenspring Valley and the stream meanders east until it reaches Lake Roland. At Lake Roland the river merges with the eastern tributaries and then continues southward over the dam and through Baltimore City. It finally emerges from a tunnel in Baltimore City’s Inner Harbor.
The Western Run event happened at an elevated manhole located along the stream near Western Run Drive and Bonnie View Drive.
The cause of the overflows was heavy rainfall entering the sewer mains, overwhelming the ability of the mains to handle all the water. All of these began in the late morning and stopped in the afternoon.
The Baltimore City Health Department and the Maryland Department of the Environment were notified of these releases.
Structured overflows were designed as part of Baltimore’s sewer system more than 100 years ago. Structured overflows were designed to act as release valves when the mains are surcharged with rainwater that enters the sewer lines during significant storms.
Structured overflows are being eliminated as part of the City’s $2 billion Consent Decree sewer rehabilitation work. The agreement – a proposed modification to the 2002 consent decree between the Department of the Environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice and the City – notes that modeling shows more than 80 percent of sewage overflow volume will be addressed by projects to be completed by the start of 2021.
The public is reminded to avoid contact with urban waterways due to the risk of pollution. The Health Department warns all residents and visitors that contact with any stream or water way in the city should be avoided due to potential contaminants. There should be no fishing, swimming, or wading in the waterways. If you come into contact with the water you should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. If the contacted area has any open wounds or sores then you should seek advice from your healthcare provider.
To report a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO), please call 311.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - 11:32
The Baltimore City Department of Public Works estimates that on Sunday, February 11, approximately 5.7 million gallons of wastewater mixed with rainwater overflowed into the Jones Falls, and 36 thousand gallons overflowed into the Western Run.
The Jones Falls incidents occurred underground in structured overflows in the 400 block of East Preston Street and the 1900 block of Falls Road.
The Jones Falls watershed encompasses 40 square miles including rural segments of Baltimore County at its upper reaches. The headwaters of the Jones Falls begin in Greenspring Valley and the stream meanders east until it reaches Lake Roland. At Lake Roland the river merges with the eastern tributaries and then continues southward over the dam and through Baltimore City. It finally emerges from a tunnel in Baltimore City’s Inner Harbor.
The Western Run event happened at an elevated manhole located along the stream near Western Run Drive and Bonnie View Drive.
The cause of the overflows was heavy rainfall entering the sewer mains, overwhelming the ability of the mains to handle all the water. All of these began in the late morning and stopped in the afternoon.
The Baltimore City Health Department and the Maryland Department of the Environment were notified of these releases.
Structured overflows were designed as part of Baltimore’s sewer system more than 100 years ago. Structured overflows were designed to act as release valves when the mains are surcharged with rainwater that enters the sewer lines during significant storms.
Structured overflows are being eliminated as part of the City’s $2 billion Consent Decree sewer rehabilitation work. The agreement – a proposed modification to the 2002 consent decree between the Department of the Environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice and the City – notes that modeling shows more than 80 percent of sewage overflow volume will be addressed by projects to be completed by the start of 2021.
The public is reminded to avoid contact with urban waterways due to the risk of pollution. The Health Department warns all residents and visitors that contact with any stream or water way in the city should be avoided due to potential contaminants. There should be no fishing, swimming, or wading in the waterways. If you come into contact with the water you should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. If the contacted area has any open wounds or sores then you should seek advice from your healthcare provider.
To report a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO), please call 311.
The Jones Falls incidents occurred underground in structured overflows in the 400 block of East Preston Street and the 1900 block of Falls Road.
The Jones Falls watershed encompasses 40 square miles including rural segments of Baltimore County at its upper reaches. The headwaters of the Jones Falls begin in Greenspring Valley and the stream meanders east until it reaches Lake Roland. At Lake Roland the river merges with the eastern tributaries and then continues southward over the dam and through Baltimore City. It finally emerges from a tunnel in Baltimore City’s Inner Harbor.
The Western Run event happened at an elevated manhole located along the stream near Western Run Drive and Bonnie View Drive.
The cause of the overflows was heavy rainfall entering the sewer mains, overwhelming the ability of the mains to handle all the water. All of these began in the late morning and stopped in the afternoon.
The Baltimore City Health Department and the Maryland Department of the Environment were notified of these releases.
Structured overflows were designed as part of Baltimore’s sewer system more than 100 years ago. Structured overflows were designed to act as release valves when the mains are surcharged with rainwater that enters the sewer lines during significant storms.
Structured overflows are being eliminated as part of the City’s $2 billion Consent Decree sewer rehabilitation work. The agreement – a proposed modification to the 2002 consent decree between the Department of the Environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice and the City – notes that modeling shows more than 80 percent of sewage overflow volume will be addressed by projects to be completed by the start of 2021.
The public is reminded to avoid contact with urban waterways due to the risk of pollution. The Health Department warns all residents and visitors that contact with any stream or water way in the city should be avoided due to potential contaminants. There should be no fishing, swimming, or wading in the waterways. If you come into contact with the water you should wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. If the contacted area has any open wounds or sores then you should seek advice from your healthcare provider.
To report a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO), please call 311.