Thursday, August 6, 2020

In Baltimore $#!* Don't Flow Uphill

More than a dozen sanitary sewer overflows were reported in Baltimore Tuesday as Tropical Storm Isaias brought heavy rain to the city.

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works’ sanitary sewer overflow map shows 17 separate incidents on Tuesday, the largest of which led to 410,000 gallons ending up in the Jones Falls.

So far, just under 530,000 gallons have been confirmed to have overflowed, though of the 17 incidents reported, ten didn’t specify the size of the overflow.
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The city recommends people avoid the affected waterways. Waterways throughout Baltimore are considered impaired and the city advises people shouldn’t swim in any city water source or waterway.
This is my shocked face. But they're not alone, close to home: Public Notification of Sewage Overflow in Prince Frederick
On the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, due to the excessive rainfall brought about by Tropical Storm Isaias, erosion beneath the Main Street roadway in Prince Frederick damaged a sewer line and caused a sewage force main to rupture. As a result, sewage was discharged 200 yards north of the headwaters of Parkers Creek.

A substantial quantity of effluent was controlled through shutting down pump stations and removal with pump trucks. At no time was there impact to service for water and sewer customers. The Department of Public Works is working to repair the line and roadway.

Because of the temporary sewage discharge, all residents and visitors are strongly cautioned to avoid contact with the waters of Parkers Creek or where the creek meets the Chesapeake Bay until Friday, Aug. 7, at the earliest.
Prince Frederick, and Parker's Creek in Google Maps. You can see the triangular sewage pond near the center of the clip:

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