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Imagine coming home to find your basement overflowing with sewage. According to Inside Climate News, this nightmare is becoming a reality for thousands of Baltimore residents.
what’s happening?
Baltimore residents are facing sewage backing up into their homes as the city’s aging sewer system can’t keep up with increasing rainfall, leaving thousands of residents with sewage flowing into their basements and bathrooms.
A cleanup program aimed at helping has been stalled for more than a year due to disagreements between city and environmental officials.
Why are Baltimore’s sewage problems a concern?
Untreated sewage contains bacteria and viruses that can make people sick, especially children and those with weak immune systems. Extreme weather is also getting worse, with frequent heavy rains overwhelming the city’s sewer pipes.
Jennifer Kunze, Maryland organizing director for Clean Water Action, said the city’s reluctance to expand the cleanup program is “deeply disturbing.”
She added: “We’ve heard stories of people who have had sewer backups in recent months and have been forced to use unsafe methods to clean them up because the city has refused to help, even though the city’s infrastructure is the cause in the first place.”
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It’s unfair that residents have to deal with this disruption, both literally and financially.
What is being done about Baltimore’s sewage problems?
There’s a ray of hope: The Environmental Protection Agency is asking the city to expand its cleanup program to cover more types of backflow, like clogged or cracked pipes, which could help thousands more residents get the help they need.
While the city and environmental officials negotiate, you can protect your home and your health.
Install a backflow prevention valve to prevent sewage from backing up into your home during heavy rains. This is an upfront expense, but it can save you thousands of dollars in potential cleanup costs.
Be careful what you flush. Only toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet. Do not flush wet wipes, even if they are advertised as “flushable.” This will help prevent clogging your pipes and city systems.
Consider a rainwater tank to collect water from your roof, which will reduce the amount of stormwater that enters your sewer system during heavy rains, preventing overflows and lowering your utility bills.
Support local efforts to promote green infrastructure such as rainwater gardens and permeable paving. These natural-based solutions help absorb excess water before it overflows into the sewer system.
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