#247 Smarter Sewer System
A single manhole in Herring Run Park has leaked 26.5 million gallons of sewage since December 2018, and massive overflows have even blown off the manhole cover. This isn't an isolated problem - Baltimore's sewer system is susceptible to overflows due to excessive rainwater and aging infrastructure (source: https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2019/08/27/an-obscure-manhole-is-an-outsized-source-of-sewage-pollution-in-baltimore/).
Champion Name
Jarune Uwujaren
Location
City-wide
Timeline
Oct 24, 2021
Today
Sep 25, 2019
Created
Why it matters
Untreated sewage pollutes the environment and can make public spaces unsafe, unsanitary, and bad smelling.
What does "good" look like?
Good looks like Baltimore City having automated overflow measures in place to prevent manholes from blowing and sewage from polluting the City.
How could technology solve this?
Smart sensors and interceptor facilities that can store overflow sewage could automate the City's response to unanticipated overflows, thereby reducing pollution and saving citizens the trouble of placing calls to 311. Such a system is being developed by the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (see: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/smart-cities-and-smart-se_b_14488630).