On Thursday, Sept. 14, a sanitary sewer overflow occurred at North Charles and West Lanvale Streets. This overflow began at 12:30 p.m. and lasted for approximately two hours.  This is a structured overflow site which discharged an estimated 141,000 gallons into the Jones Falls.

The overflow occurred when a contractor performed line cleaning downstream, causing this sewer line to back up and exceed capacity.

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.