Substance found near Back River plant ‘is not raw sewage’

A material that looks like feces was found bubbling up near a discharge pipe at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant, but the state says it’s not raw sewage. Gobs of solid pollution can be found in the Back River near the wastewater treatment plant. Video recorded days ago by a Back River Restoration Committee member captured waste near the plant’s discharge pipe.”We looked down and saw things floating and bubbles, like gases coming up from the bottom of the river,” said Desiree Greaver, a project manager with the Back River Restoration Committee. “It had a very strong odor, and it very much resembled that of human feces.”An analysis by the Maryland Department of the Environment indicates the discharge found is not raw sewage; however, the agency also reported there is no clear-cut evidence to confirm its origin.| RELATED: MDE orders Baltimore treatment plant to stop unpermitted dischargesMDE responded, saying: “MDE’s analysis indicates this is not raw sewage. The department is planning to conduct a field study, collect more sediment samples in the river and compare them to the material in the wastewater treatment plant to better understand and determine the source of the issue.”Greaver, who collects water samples of the river weekly, said an independent analysis of the specimen that looked like feces indicated dangerously unsafe levels of bacteria.”This is people’s health. That water surrounds this community park; the people here (who) are playing and fishing deserve definitive answers,” Greaver said. “Their answers are always ‘it doesn’t appear to be,’ ‘it doesn’t seem to be,’ ‘it seems to look like.’ There really isn’t a definitive answer, which has become increasingly frustrating,” Greaver said.Late last month, the nonprofit Maryland Environmental Service took over the Baltimore City-run facility located in Dundalk after an inspection documented serious staff shortages and equipment issues. | RELATED: MDE: State takeover of Back River plant is environmental rescue missionMDE monitors work completed by MES. The state takeover took place after an on-site inspection documented serious plant operation problems, including clogged filters and inoperable storage tanks.| PDF: March 22 inspection findings| PDF: March 26 inspection findingsMES provided 11 licensed operators and five maintenance staff in addition to training. MES is currently helping the city implement an operator-training program. There is now 24-hour coverage, and crews are replacing and/or repairing six pumps that draw solid waste. They’re also bringing in new lab equipment.Residents who live nearby said the plant is lacking a line of communication with the community.”This community deserves definitive answers. This community deserves action,” Greaver said. “It feels as if there is absolutely no sense of urgency.”MES is prepared to operate the plant as long as necessary to bring it into compliance. There’s still no hearing date on Baltimore City’s court challenge to the state takeover.| TIMELINE: Baltimore seeks legal review of state’s takeover of Back River plantThe Baltimore City Department of Public Works released a statement Friday afternoon, saying: “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.”The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) examined a sample of solid waste materials observed earlier this week (April 14) in Back River. MDE’s analysis indicated that this was NOT raw sewage. The sample of solid waste material collected this week appears similar to the sample MDE received from Blue Water Baltimore on March 23. “The microscopic analysis of the March 23 sample showed no life visible (ie, bacteria, fungi, protozoan, rotifers, and nematodes ), indicating there were no undigested byproducts. The strong odor in both samples was similar to nutrient-rich oxygen-depleted marsh mud. “DPW continues to work closely with MDE and the Maryland Environmental Services (MES) agencies to ensure optimal performance of the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant by collecting and comparing river samples daily. DPW will continue to partner with MDE and MES to ensure compliance.”

A material that looks like feces was found bubbling up near a discharge pipe at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant, but the state says it’s not raw sewage.

Gobs of solid pollution can be found in the Back River near the wastewater treatment plant. Video recorded days ago by a Back River Restoration Committee member captured waste near the plant’s discharge pipe.

“We looked down and saw things floating and bubbles, like gases coming up from the bottom of the river,” said Desiree Greaver, a project manager with the Back River Restoration Committee. “It had a very strong odor, and it very much resembled that of human feces.”

An analysis by the Maryland Department of the Environment indicates the discharge found is not raw sewage; however, the agency also reported there is no clear-cut evidence to confirm its origin.

| RELATED: MDE orders Baltimore treatment plan to stop unpermitted discharges

MDE responded, saying: “MDE’s analysis indicates this is not raw sewage. The department is planning to conduct a field study, collect more sediment samples in the river and compare them to the material in the wastewater treatment plant to better understand and determine the source of the issue.”

Greaver, who collects water samples from the river weekly, said an independent analysis of the specimen that looked like feces indicated dangerously unsafe levels of bacteria.

“This is people’s health. That water surrounds this community park; the people here (who) are playing and fishing deserve definitive answers,” Greaver said. “Their answers are always ‘it doesn’t appear to be,’ ‘it doesn’t seem to be,’ ‘it seems to look like.’ There really isn’t a definitive answer, which has become increasingly frustrating,” Greaver said.

Late last month, the nonprofit Maryland Environmental Service took over the Baltimore City-run facility located in Dundalk after an inspection documented serious staff shortages and equipment issues.

| RELATED: MDE: State takeover of Back River plant is environmental rescue mission

MDE monitors work completed by MES. The state takeover took place after an on-site inspection documented serious plant operation problems, including clogged filters and inoperable storage tanks.

| PDF: March 22 inspection findings
| PDF: March 26 inspection findings

MES provided 11 licensed operators and five maintenance staff in addition to training. MES is currently helping the city implement an operator training program.

There is now 24-hour coverage, and crews are replacing and/or repairing six pumps that draw solid waste. They’re also bringing in new lab equipment.

Residents who live nearby said the plant is lacking a line of communication with the community.

“This community deserves definitive answers. This community deserves action,” Greaver said. “It feels as if there is absolutely no sense of urgency.”

MES is prepared to operate the plant as long as necessary to bring it into compliance. There’s still no hearing date on Baltimore City’s court challenge to the state takeover.

| TIMELINE: Baltimore seeks legal review of state’s takeover of Back River plans

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works released a statement Friday afternoon, saying: “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.

“The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) examined a sample of solid waste materials observed earlier this week (April 14) in Back River. MDE’s analysis indicated that this was NOT raw sewage. The sample of solid waste material collected this week appears similar to the sample MDE received from Blue Water Baltimore on March 23.

“The microscopic analysis of the March 23 sample showed no life visible (ie, bacteria, fungi, protozoan, rotifers, and nematodes), indicating there were no undigested byproducts. The strong odor in both samples was similar to nutrient-rich oxygen-depleted marsh mud.

“DPW continues to work closely with MDE and the Maryland Environmental Services (MES) agencies to ensure optimal performance of the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant by collecting and comparing river samples daily. DPW will continue to partner with MDE and MES to ensure compliance.”

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

What State has done since the take over of the Back River Waste water treatment plan: MES provided 12 licensed operators, 5 maintenance staff, training, 24 hour coverage. Replacing 6 solid waste pumps. New lab equipment. pic.twitter.com/3IqIZQO54h

— David Collins (@dcollinsWBAL) April 15, 2022

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

MDE analysis of solid waste sample taken this week near the Back River Waste Water treatment plant” this is not raw sewage”. pic.twitter.com/KpF0Pemkyn

— David Collins (@dcollinsWBAL) April 15, 2022

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