Amid Recent Sewage Overflows, Baltimore City Cannot Delay System Upgrades

City Wants to Delay Repairs 16 Years, Threatening Community Health and Clean Water

To help prevent additional sewage overflows and pollution in Baltimore, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and Blue Water Baltimore this week urged the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW), Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to complete critical sewer line upgrades by 2030. 

Just last month, a failing pipe caused over 1.7 million gallons of raw sewage to leak into Jones Falls. These events can expose residents to harmful pollution, devastate wildlife, and degrade the Chesapeake Bay. 

A 2002 consent decree between Baltimore City, MDE, EPA, and Blue Water Baltimore required the city to upgrade its old and failing sewer infrastructure. Many upgrades have already been made that are expected to decrease sewage overflows by 94%, according to DPW. However, Phase II of the plan, which includes some of the city’s most challenging and expensive work, is severely lacking. 

The original agreement had a construction deadline of 2030. Yet after two failed attempts at revising the plan, DPW is now suggesting a 2046 timeline. Delaying necessary improvements, such as relining pipes and replacing manholes, will significantly increase the risks of additional sewage overflows, sewage backups in people’s basements, and would likely lead to even more expensive repairs and cleanup efforts in the future. 

The city cites funding concerns for the delay, rightfully not wanting to raise rates for the community members most affected by these systems. But delaying improvements won’t make them less expensive and can put Maryland residents at risk. There are various funding sources offered by EPA and other federal agencies that Baltimore has not yet explored to fund this critical work. 

This is DPW’s third attempt to finalize Phase II of the modified consent decree. The two initial drafts were deemed insufficient by MDE and EPA.  

In separate letters to Baltimore City, CBF and BWB urged the involved agencies to diligently review Phase II and to enforce the initial deadline. While great progress has been made reducing wastewater pollution in the Bay, the issues that remain are some of the most threatening to people, wildlife, and clean water. 

CBF Maryland Staff Scientist Gussie Maguire issued the following statement: 

“Baltimore’s aging sewage infrastructure breaks down even under ideal conditions and is no match for climate change and the intense weather we’re experiencing on a regular basis. Last month’s 1.7 million gallon overflow in the Jones Falls happened during a dry spell—no stormwater to blame. Baltimore can no longer let failing systems go unchecked, and delaying repairs to 2046 would be simply unacceptable. 

“The further Baltimore City kicks the can on sewage repairs, the more polluted overflows that communities will endure and the more expensive future repairs will be. CBF urges Baltimore to make the necessary investments now rather than risk further degradation of our waterways and communities.” 

Blue Water Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper Alice Volpitta said:  

“We are calling on all parties involved to create a plan that doesn’t just push problems down the road, and that uses the best available data to prioritize urgent investments. Our residents deserve a plan that protects their right to clean water, not delays that drag on indefinitely.”