Previous-Cook t1_j9oy2jq wrote on February 23, 2023 at 3:20 PM

Blue Water Baltimore

Animanialmanac t1_j9paovc wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:42 PM

I’m learning Blue Water Baltimore isn’t as effective as they need to be. I live in Southwest Baltimore where we’ve had multiple floods and sewage overflows. Blue Water Baltimore is supposed to be the representative for residents in the process for fixing the city’s sewage system. Our block captain does a better job getting us information and help. She follows through with DPW on the repairs. We had multiple big sewage leaks at the edge of my neighborhood where the sewage went right into the river back by the park. When I followed up on the pollution reports to the city, the city told me Blue Water Baltimore gets paid to handle those reports but they focus on high profile spills in the white L. I understand why groups focus on high profile incidents but I believe it a group gets paid to handle something citywide you should do that.

BMoreOnTheWater t1_j9qxegc wrote on February 23, 2023 at 10:44 PM

Yeah that’s not how it works. Blue Water Baltimore is a non-profit that does a great deal to advocate for improved water ecosystems. They are not the designated/official ombudsman charged with addressing all city sewage shortcomings. They do also receive occasional grants from state and federal sources (like this one for $92K to improve a specific runoff issue). Whoever said “Blue Water Baltimore gets paid to take care of this” was misinformed.

Blue Water Baltimore’s annual budget is under $3M, of which only around $500K came from state or federal sources; DPW’s water-related budget is around $400M, which includes over $100M just for storm water and another $100M+ for waste water management.

BWB has incidentally pushed forward/supported multiple lawsuits against various entities, including the city itself..

YoYoMoMa t1_j9pbetm wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:46 PM

>the city told me

Do you have any idea if what they told you is true?

Animanialmanac t1_j9pd99c wrote on February 23, 2023 at 4:57 PM

Oh yes. Our block captain brought back the flyers from the DPW Annual meeting, a long report of the progress so far with the reasons for delay, and other information. I never would have known anything about the process and repairs if I hadn’t pushed for help. The city holds a meeting open to public every year to answer questions. I believe I heard about it before but didn’t know how much my area was effected. There was raw sewage, I believe it’s been a problem for years but last year it was so bad I saw used sanitary supplies and toilet paper collecting in the corner where the curb was high enough to stop the solid items. It was unpleasant, I hope the city fixes these problems soon.

Appropriate_Bonus440 t1_j9r8jdx wrote on February 24, 2023 at 12:00 AM

I also live in Southwest Baltimore, and Blue Water Baltimore coordinated tree plantings in our neighborhood. (Something I never heard back from the Forestry Department about.. 👀) anyway they’re alright in my book.