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DPW says long-term plan for sewer-overflow reduction will cost over $2 billion; DOJ sign-off pending
Summary
DPW told the council its long-term SOS remediation program has cost roughly $1.4 billion to date and that the department expects the remaining work to bring total expenditures to about $2.0–$2.1 billion under a modified consent-decree approach supported by EPA and MDE but awaiting DOJ approval.
Councilman Z. Gray pressed DPW for details about the city’s sanitary sewer overflow (SOS) program and the budget lines that support basement-backup remediation.
Director Zaid said DPW has spent roughly $1.4 billion on SOS-related work from 2002 to the present and that the department has reduced sanitary sewer overflow volume by about 84% and the number of events by 47%. Looking forward, Zaid said the city anticipates total costs in the vicinity of $2.0–$2.1 billion to meet the remaining obligations of the modified consent decree and to substantially eliminate overflows.
On administrative timing, Zaid told the council that DPW and state and federal regulators have negotiated an agreement that both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) support; the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not yet signed off. Because DOJ approval remains pending, DPW said it could not disclose negotiation details now but that the agreement would constitute a change to the program that increases near-term investments and modifies prior approaches.
Councilman Gray asked a series of committee requests for data on basement backups and SOS program activity (FY23–FY25): counts of 311 calls for sewage backups separated into wet- and dry-weather events; the number of events determined to be caused by city infrastructure; counts of SOS program applications and denials; amounts disbursed by fiscal year; and the disposition of any unspent SOS funds. DPW said it will provide the requested breakdowns.
Ending: DPW said it will supply the records council members requested and noted the department expects to announce the negotiated agreement once DOJ approval is received.
