As a result of the heavy rainfall in the Baltimore area on Monday, August 1, a sanitary sewer overflow occurred at North Charles and West Lanvale Streets.  This overflow began at 4:10 p.m. and lasted for approximately 95 minutes.  This is a structured overflow which discharged an estimated 229,000 gallons into the Jones Falls.

Rain-swollen structured overflow locations were designed into the system more than 100 years ago to provide such releases when the sewers became inundated with rainwater. The City’s remaining structured overflows are being eliminated, and sewers are being repaired and replaced to avoid infiltration of stormwater, as the capacity of Baltimore’s sewer collection and treatment systems are upgraded under the City’s sewer system consent decree.

The Baltimore City Health Department and the Maryland Department of the Environment were notified of this overflow.

The public is reminded to avoid contact with urban waterways due to the risk of pollution. For information about health concerns as a result of sewer overflows please go to http://health.baltimorecity.gov/sanitary-sewer-overflows-sso.