Baltimore DPW discovers source of human waste leak in Brewers Hill
From WBALTV
BALTIMORE —
Baltimore City officials discovered the source of a human waste leak in Brewers Hill that came from a sewer line and spewed into a storm drain that leads to the harbor.
While officials told 11 News Investigates that sewage spills into the harbor are common, some good news in this case is that the city quickly found the source.
In April, a construction crew working on utility lines found a sewage leak at a work site on Toone Street.
According to a report obtained by 11 News Investigates, the Maryland Department of the Environment inspected the location on April 10, saying its investigators believe the leak has persisted for months but that the amount of raw sewage that escaped remains unknown.
"While working on the storm drain, human waste was observed coming out of the pipe and moving down the line," the MDE report states.
The MDE report states that the Baltimore City Department of Public Works went to the site but declared it to be MDE's responsibility. The MDE report said the pipe was located under a private street, but that it was unknown whether the underground utilities are private or owned by the city.
But the DPW told 11 News Investigates that it didn't receive MDE's findings until Friday. The DPW's Office of Research and Environmental Protection is investigating the leak.
"We sample about 120 sites every week throughout the city, monitoring for sewage discharges, chlorine leaks, and we also do consumer complaints," said Nick Mitrus, a pollution control analyst for the DPW.
DPW crews on Wednesday threaded a cable-mounted camera through a sewer line that led them to a building adjacent to the leak.
"So, the pipe is running into the building behind me," Mitrus told 11 News Investigates. "We found it coming into our storm drainpipe, so we would call this an illicit connection, an illicit discharge."
In other words, it's an illegal discharge. The building is fairly new and its owners have been notified, so it's up to them to correct the problem. How it happened remains under investigation.
"It could be a number of reasons: A plumber is doing work to make a repair on a sewer system, they find a pipe next to him that's not blocked and ties into it by mistake, or it can be intentional," Mitrus told 11 News Investigates.
Residents in the area called the discovery disgusting and disturbing, telling 11 News Investigates that they're relieved the DPW identified the source of the pollution.
"I think it is extremely important, given how congested the space is here, with all the buildings and young professionals trying to raise families around here," said Alex Deruggiero, a resident.
"It is extremely important, especially for Baltimore. I think we are known for our harbor. We have so many issues. It seems like they made some progress in the last year or so. It would be just awful to see them go in the reverse direction," said Mike Albi, a resident.
"(The harbor is) part of the city, and I think it is one of the best parts of the city for people to enjoy. The cleaner it is, the happier we are," said Ben Aghajanian, a resident.
The DPW said it will cite the building owner, and from Wednesday forward, the owner faces a minimum $250 fine each day the issue remains unresolved.
