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Wednesday, November 7, 2012


Posted by ANGELA
Published on Wed, Nov 7 2012



Hey guys!

Big news today! A 60-inch water main has broken just a block from MICA's campus here in Baltimore.  The event occurred this morning around 8AM at the intersection of Charles St. and E 21st, just a block north of North Ave. This is just one of many water main ruptures that has occurred within Baltimore within the past 6 months.





In July, a 20-inch main broke at the intersection of Light and Lombard, causing major flooding and  traffic detours in downtown Baltimore. This break inflicted a major inconvenience on travelers, as well as businesses within the area that lost quite a bit of business as a result of the rupture. Even later in July, another 20-inch main broke within a sinkhole on Monument St.  Due to its proximity underground, within a sinkhole, the water did not cause flooding on the streets, but continued to erode the land below the sinkhole, increasing its size and potential danger for further collapse.



Just days ago, reports surfaced of two large water main breaks, both in Northeast Baltimore.  Today's events, though shocking, are hardly surprising. It has been reported that Baltimore experiences nearly 1000 water main breaks a year. Philadelphia, a city nearly twice the size of Baltimore, services around 750 breaks a year. This increase in structural failure is due in part to the increasingly dated infrastructure of Baltimore's water system. Some of these pipes, including the one which ruptured in the intersection of Light and Lombard are estimated to be roughly 100 years old!

Baltimore City is currently in the process of solving these issues, as just yesterday Question J was passed as a result of the election. Question J, a charter amendment, deals with Stormwater Utility within the city. The resolution is described as follows: 

"Resolution No. 12-04 for the purpose of establishing a financially self-sustaining stormwater utility; authorizing supplemental legislation to implement the provisions governing water, sanitary wastewater, and stormwater utilities; correcting, clarifying, and conforming related language; and providing for a special effective date."

Question J was passed yesterday as a result of the election, voting statistics are as follows: 

Question J - Create stormwater utility
 164 of 294 precincts reporting 55.8%   Percent Votes

For the Charter Amendment                      85.8%    110,918
 Against the Charter Amendment             14.2%    18,386


Here is a link to the report dealing with the water main break that occurred earlier today. The video is quite startling, especially viewing it with an understanding of the water crisis today. To see that much water wasted, rushing through the streets, understanding the affects that it has on the environment as well as the community. 









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