1. science
2. ecology
3. pollution

Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
The DPW Mission
Mission:
We support the health,
environment, and
economy of our City and
region by providing
customers with safe
drinking water and
keeping neighborhoods
and waterways clean.
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Department of Public Works
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Water , Wastewater, Stormwater
Provides planning, engineering, construction management,
operations, and maintenance of the City’s utility infrastructure.
Wastewater:
Water:
Stormwater:
Maintain the wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, and
collection/conveyance systems to protect the environment, public health and
safety, and comply with all Federal, State, and Local regulations.
Maintain the water supply, treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs, and
distribution system. Supply high quality drinking water to the region; protect the
public health and safety; and comply with all Federal, State and Local regulations.
Provide an efficient stormwater collection and conveyance system, to minimize
flooding and to minimize property damage. Maintain the streams and open
channels within the City, protect the environment, protect public health and safety,
and comply with MS4 permits.
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Water Facts
Serve 1.8 million people in Baltimore City and five counties
• Three Reservoir Watersheds: Loch Raven, Liberty and Prettyboy
• Three Water Filtration Plants: Montebello I, Montebello II, and Ashburton
• Filters and distributes an average of 225 million gallons of drinking water daily
• Operates 20 finished water pumping stations and one raw water pumping station
• Operates finished water towers, tanks and reservoirs
• Operates 2 major chlorinators and 16 remote chlorinators
• Maintains 3,800 miles of water mains and 700 miles of public water connections
• Maintains 9,100 fire hydrants (City): 13,750 fire hydrants (County)
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Water Utility Challenges
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Water Utility Challenges
The average age of the City’s large
water mains is approximately 75
years, and some are in excess of 100
years old.
• Deferred maintenance has increased major utility breaks which directly
impact public health & safety – this is a national problem
• New MDE and EPA regulations require investment in new treatment
processes either with partial State/federal contributions or with no
financial assistance
• Water and sewer rates have increased to meet the demand to fund repairs
and improvements
• The water systems must support and keep pace with the Mayor’s priorities
for a Growing City
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Water Main Rehabilitation & Replacements
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Wastewater Facts
WASTEWATER FACTS:
• Two Wastewater Treatment Plants: Back River and Patapsco
•Collects and treats up to 250 million gallons of wastewater daily (Back River: 180
MGD/Patapsco: 63 MGD)
•There are 3,100 miles of sanitary mains in the system.
We maintain the 1,400 miles in Baltimore City.
•Operates eight major wastewater pumping stations and ten minor installations.
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Wastewater Utility Challenges
•
•
Age
Federally mandated consent decree must be funded and completed by 2016, at
an anticipated cost of more than $1.5 billion
EPA regulations are increasingly stringent and are requiring upgrades at
treatment plants to protect Chesapeake Bay, at an anticipated cost of $1 billion
2000
1800
Thousands Feet Installed
•
Sewer Pipe Installed by Decade
1600
1400
Feet of Pipe
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Decade
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Stormwater Facts
SURFACE WATER FACTS:
• Baltimore City maintains a separate storm drain system:
1,146 miles of storm drain pipes
27,561 storm drain manholes
52,438 storm drain inlets
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Stormwater Challenges
• Aging Infrastructure.
Anticipated $2 Billion cost
• Multiple infrastructure failures
with traffic and business
disruptions
• MS4 Permit: 20% Impervious
Area Restoration in 5 years.
Anticipated $200 Million cost
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Department of Public Works
Office of Asset Management
• The new Office of Asset Management (OAM) was created to systematically
address all of DPW’s assets. It reports to the Director of the Department of
Public Works.
• It is implementing a series of preventive maintenance programs, which will shift
the City from a predominantly reactive mode of operation to one that is more
proactive, systematic and cost efficient.
• On-going activities of OAM include a comprehensive chemical root control
program in sewer lines, sewer lateral inspection and repair, and water pipeline
condition assessment, water loss control, and unidirectional flushing.
• By implementing strategic asset management principles, our objectives are to
extend the life and capacity of our assets, minimize system failures, provide a
sustained level of service to our customers at an affordable rate.
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Office of Engineering and
Construction
• Office created in 2014 out of two Bureau of Water and Wastewater
divisions, (Engineering, and Construction Management ), and Bureau
of Solid Waste engineering
• Oversees a six-year Capital Improvement Program of about $3 billion
• Reports to the Director
• Better coordination of planning and execution of infrastructure
projects
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Office of Engineering and Construction:
Water Projects
• The total 6-Year Capital Improvement Program for Water projects is
estimated to be $2.1 billion.
• In FY-2015, Water projects are scheduled, for a total cost of $246 million.
• Includes water main rehabilitation
& replacement at a more
aggressive pace.
• Federal Administrative Order to
cover all 5 of the City’s Open
Finished Water Reservoir Projects
continues.
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Office of Engineering and Construction:
Wastewater Projects
• The total 6-Year Capital Improvement Program for
Wastewater is estimated to be $790 million
• In FY 2015, 21 Wastewater projects are scheduled, for a
total cost of $399 million
WASTEWATER SERVICE AREA
• Includes regulatory driven Enhanced Nutrient
Removal upgrades at the
Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Headworks improvements at Back River
• Consent Decree corrective action improvements
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Office of Engineering and Construction:
Stormwater Projects
• The total 6-Year Capital Improvement
Program for Stormwater is estimated to
be $135 million
• In FY 2015, Stormwater projects are
scheduled, for a total cost of $3.7 million
Stormwater Projects
•
•
•
•
•
Large stormwater pollution control projects
Stream restoration projects
Urban environmental site designs
Impervious removal/Greening projects
Catch basin inserts and large debris
collection systems
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Water , Wastewater, Stormwater
Upcoming Projects
• Additional enclosures of finished drinking water lakes
• New water treatment facility at Fullerton in Baltimore County
• Accelerated water main replacement at a steady 40 miles annually
• New Headworks project at Back River
• Completion of Enhanced Nutrient Removal projects: Back River and Patapsco
• New water billing system
• Sewer lateral inspection and renewal
• Major sewer construction - Consent Decree
• Race Street storm drain construction
• Large ferrous mains evaluation
• Stream restoration projects
• Watershed implementation plans
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Back River Headworks
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
ENR Upgrades at both
Wastewater Treatment Plants
 MDE funding for the Enhanced Nutrient Removal
at Back River WWTP is not sufficient to cover
total project costs
 The projects will result in a total Nitrogen
Reduction of 2.2 million pounds/year, which is
30% of the State of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay
Goal
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Water , Wastewater, Stormwater
Recent Accomplishments
• Met all deadlines of Wastewater Consent Decree
• New digester building at Back River
• New automated-read water meters
• Tree root control program for sewers
• Prevention of catastrophic Class IV PCCP main failures using proactive technology
• Expanded outreach to citizens via social media and through public events
• Offering water/sewer line service plans to residents through HomeServe USA
• Published first Departmental Annual Report in over a decade
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Office of Sustainable Energy
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Bureau of Solid Waste
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Department of Public Works
QUESTIONS?
Baltimore City Department of Public Works