Baltimore, MD – A report from the Environmental Integrity Project, compiled from records obtained through the Maryland Public Information Act, shed light on the sewage problems the city faces. The 27-page report, entitled “Stopping the Floor Beneath Baltimore’s Streets,” found that the city of Baltimore had intentionally discharged 335 million gallons of sewage mixed with stormwater into the Jones Falls in the last five years, according to Baltimore Brew.
The Environmental Integrity Project, which is based in Washington, D.C., also found that the putrid mixture enters waterways through two “Sanitary Sewer Outfalls,” which remain open despite an order by the federal government to close them by 2010.
One of those is near the Baltimore Streetcar Museum at 1901 Falls Road. A reporter from the Baltimore Brew stopped by the area and noticed the “foul fecal odor” near the outfalls (SSO #67).
In fact, a sign posted near the falls warns citizens that the area is “potentially contaminated” due to wastewater bacteria.
The federal government ordered repairs on Baltimore’s sewers back in 2002, but with the deadline to comply with the orders fast approaching, only around half the work is completed. In general, sewers more than 40 years old will need replacing, as they are at the most risk for the cracks or collapses that can lead to a backup.
Perhaps most disturbing are the sewage backups that have affected the homes of Baltimore residents.
George and Brenda Johnson suffered from two sewage backups in their basement, one in 2010 and another in 2011. Brenda, a retired teacher, told the Environmental Integrity Project that the sewage “erupted like a geyser” from the toilet and shower drain during the first incident, which lasted for several hours.
Yet the city has spent $700 million on projects to fix the issues over the past 13 years. Furthermore, city residents now pay three times what they used to for water and sewer bills, which The Brew says netted Baltimore an additional $2 billion.
That’s not even including other costs raised by the state of Maryland for both sewer and septic users.
Circle of Blue reports that the state collects fees from both sewer and septic users. A portion of these funds is used for installing nitrogen-removing equipment on septic systems as part of the Chesapeake Bay Nitrogen Reduction Act of 2009.
So far, the Department of Public Works hasn’t responded to reporter questions concerning the sewage backups and other issues, reports The Brew.
Eric Schaeffer, the Environmental Integrity Project’s executive director and former director of civil enforcement with the Environmental Protection Agency, hopes that the report and ongoing negotiations will spur on cleanup efforts.
“This work needs to get done as quickly as possible to stop sewage from spilling into the harbor or flooding Baltimore basements,” Schaeffer said.