Sanitary Sewer Overflows into Jennifer Branch

A sanitary sewer overflow spilled hundreds of thousands of gallons into Jennifer Branch in Gunpowder State Park between Cub Hill and Perry Hall.

The cause? Department of Public Works officials say an act of vandalism left an 18-inch sanitary sewer line obstructed, according to a news release.

David Fidler, a public works spokesman, explained that a manhole cover weighing between 100 and 150 pounds was lifted away and that an object was blocking the line.

The overflow occurred in a "heavily wooded area" between Harford Road and the Seven Courts neighborhood, just to the south of where Jennifer Branch meets Gunpowder Falls.

By Monday afternoon more than 240,000 gallons had spilled into Jennifer Branch at a rate of about 10,000 gallons per hour, according to the news release.

Utility crews have been working to contain the discharge since an area resident reported the overflow Sunday afternoon.

"The Baltimore County Department of Health will monitor water quality in Jennifer Branch, the area affected by the overflow, and will publish water contact advisories as necessary on the Department’s website," the news release states.

Late last month an act of vandalism caused a smaller overflow into White Marsh Run.

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