DPW Repairs Leaking Portions of Aged Sewer Pipe

Friday Oct 27th, 2017

Green banner with DPW logo and text "Department of Public Works Press Release"

A stubborn discharge from a series of breaks in an 89-year-old sewer pipe under the 2500 block of W. Lexington Street has been stopped, about a month and a half after the breaks were diagnosed.

A contractor working for the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) installed a new lining to repair the leaking portions of the 940-foot section of pipe. That stopped what had been a steady loss of sewer water into an adjacent storm drain. Though none of the sewer water surfaced onto the street, the storm drain carried an estimated 580,000 gallons into the Gwynns Falls over the course of several weeks since the leaks were identified.

An earlier attempt to stop the leak by setting up a sewer bypass did not address leaks further down the pipe. Once engineers realized there were additional leaks coming from the connections between segments of the sewer line they began working on a more comprehensive solution. Dye testing confirmed that the leak stopped just before noon on Thursday, October 26.

An asset management program established by DPW is able to find and fix potential problems with aging infrastructure. 

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.

Related Stories

DPW Offices, Sanitation Yards Closed on Juneteenth, Monday June 19

Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Jason W. Mitchell reminds residents that Juneteenth is Monday, June 19, 2023, and is a City holiday. DPW offices and sanitation yards will be CLOSED.

Weekly trash and recycling collections are NOT impacted by the Juneteenth closure. Monday is not a scheduled curbside trash or recycling collection day.

DPW Extends Deadline to Receive Discount for Paperless Billing Sign Up

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) is pleased to announce that Baltimore City residential water customers have more time to sign up for Paperless Billing and receive a one-time, 5% discount off a monthly water bill. Residents who enroll in paperless billing by Friday, June 30, will receive the 5% discount.

DPW Offices, Sanitation Yards Closed Memorial Day: Monday, May 29

Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Jason W. Mitchell reminds residents that Memorial Day is on Monday, May 29, 2023, and is a City-observed holiday. DPW offices and sanitation yards will be CLOSED.

Contact

James E. Bentley II
410-545-6541
Jennifer Combs
410-545-6541
After hours, weekends, or holidays please call 410-396-3100 for the duty officer

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works supports the health, environment, and economy of our City and region by cleaning our neighborhoods and waterways and providing its customers with safe drinking water and sustainable energy practices.