BALTIMORE, MD. (October 16, 2014) —The Baltimore City Department of Public Works has filed a sewage overflow notice with the Maryland Department of the Environment regarding a leak of an estimated 17,553 gallons into the Gwynns Falls over eight days.

The leak, confirmed on Sept. 24, was estimated at 0.1 gallons per minute. Crews responding to the scene, in a heavily wooded area north of Edmondson Avenue, found a tree had fallen on an exposed sanitary sewer pipe, compromising the pipe and causing the leak.

After removing the tree debris and flushing the pipe, the flow rate increased on Sept. 26 to an estimated 2 gallons per minute. A plug was inserted in the line to abate the overflow, but was not able to stop the leak.
The flow continued until a full repair was made on Oct. 2, and the state was notified of the leak that day.  A final report with a more accurate estimate of the overflow amount was filed Oct. 14. 

The Baltimore City Health Department has been notified, and the stream is permanently posted with signs warning people against going into the water. Citizens are encouraged to avoid contact with urban streams due to possible pollution.