Aging Sewers Cause Frequent Spills in Baltimore

Crumbling infrastructure and lack of funding leave residents dealing with sewage backups and overflows

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Baltimore's aging sewer system is plaguing the city with frequent sewage spills and backups, with residents reporting flooded basements and streets contaminated with human waste. The city has spent nearly $2 billion over two decades trying to address the problem, but officials say more time and funding is needed to fully upgrade the over 100-year-old infrastructure. The issue highlights the challenges many cities face in maintaining and updating their water systems, which often lack sufficient public investment.

Why it matters

Sewage overflows pose serious public health risks, contaminating waterways and flooding homes and streets with potentially harmful bacteria. The problem disproportionately affects lower-income and minority communities, raising environmental justice concerns. Addressing aging sewer infrastructure is a growing challenge for many cities, requiring significant funding that often strains local budgets.

The details

Baltimore's sewer system dates back over a century, with some pipes mapped only in recent decades. Cracks, leaks, and decay have allowed rainwater to infiltrate the system, worsening backups that surge through manholes and into homes and waterways. Since 2021, the city has seen around 15 million gallons of sewage spilled. Residents have reported finding frozen toilet paper in their yards and having to vacuum up hundreds of gallons of sewage from their basements after backups. The city has made progress under a consent decree, but proposes extending the deadline to complete necessary upgrades to 2046 due to the scale and cost of the work.

  • In January 2026, a pipe collapse dumped 244 million gallons of sewage into the Potomac River.
  • Since the start of 2021, Baltimore has seen around 15 million gallons of sewage spilled across the city.

The players

Baltimore Department of Public Works

The city agency responsible for managing Baltimore's sewer system and addressing sewage overflow issues.

Teddy Bloomquist

A Baltimore resident who has experienced multiple sewage backups in his home, costing thousands in cleanup and repairs.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're going to see probably more incidents like we saw with the Potomac sewage spill.”

— Becky Hammer, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council

“A spill that happens in a community, in somebody's house, or right next to their house — that will be a memory for them forever.”

— Sri Vedachalam, Water and Climate Expert, Corvias Infrastructure Solutions

What’s next

The city of Baltimore has proposed extending the deadline to complete necessary sewer system upgrades to 2046, though environmental groups argue the work needs to be accelerated to protect public health.

The takeaway

The sewage crisis in Baltimore highlights the urgent need for significant public investment to modernize aging water infrastructure in cities across the United States. Without dedicated funding, more communities will face the public health and environmental risks posed by crumbling sewer systems.