ESSEX (MD) The Maryland Department of the Environment released a statement indicating that they have begun to improve operations at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant. This statement was issued after solid materials were found floating in the Back River’s waters this week.
The Back River Restoration Committeebased in Essex, said it is not safe to come in contact with water in Back River. He uploaded video of solid materials floating in water (see video below).
In the wake of last summers Massive illegal releases are highlighted in news coverageThe city was already facing lawsuits by the state and Baltimore for partially treated sewage, and serious operational failures of Baltimore’s two treatment facilities. Blue Water Baltimore.
The environmental watchdog group has been working with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), for the past two-months to draft a consent decree to bring the polluting plant into compliance. Baltimore Brew.
FOX 45 reportsAfter observing water conditions, the Back River Restoration Committee took water samples from the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plants effluent pipes Tuesday morning.
After sending the samples, Blue WAter Baltimore received them. The results were announced by the BRRCThe enterococcus bacteria level was 24,196MPN/100mL.
According to the BRRC, According to the State of MarylandThe water quality threshold for enterococcus in the United States is 130 MPN/100mL.
According to the Department of Public Works, the material found in the water is raw sewage.
“The Department of Public Works (DPW) maintains that the continuous characterization of discharges from the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant as untreated wastewater is absolutely not factual,” DPW stated in a statementThis week. “The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) examined a sample of solid waste materials observed earlier this week (April 14) in Back River. MDEs analysis revealed that this was not raw sewerage. This week’s sample of solid waste material is similar to the March 23 sample MDE received from Blue Water Baltimore. Microscopic analysis revealed no life (i.e. bacteria, fungi and nematodes) in the March 23 sample. This indicates that there were no undigested byproducts. The strong odor in both samples was similar to nutrient-rich oxygen-depleted marsh mud.”
The following statement was made Friday by the Maryland Department of the Environment:
“The Maryland Environmental Service, as directed by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), has begun to take steps toward improving operations at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant. MDE has taken every step necessary to improve conditions at the plant since June of last, but when the directive was issued on March 27, plant operations were in a state that was rapidly declining. MDE hopes that operations will improve during the Maryland Environmental Services temporary operating of the facility. MES will continue to be in place, working with Baltimore City to achieve our goal of bringing this plant into compliance.
“MDE is aware of concerns about solid materials observed in Back River earlier this week. Last month, there were floating clumps reported in Back River. We found floating mats made of filamentous algae. An examination of a sample that we had taken back then supported this finding. We examined a sample taken from the material this week. MDEs analysis indicates this is NOT raw sewage.”
You can view the entire statement from MDE You can find us on Facebook here.