Baltimore, Irene and pipes inadequate upkeep

[ensho]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-sewage-spill-20110902,0,2482395.story


Hurricane Irene leaves sewage spills in wake
Overflows a byproduct of inadequate upkeep, officials say


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And even as workers pushed to repair the Baltimore Highlands main, environmentalists warned that more spills are likely because the region's sewage infrastructure is old, leaky and inadequate.

"Until we fix those pipes or back up those power supplies, until we make those investments, why wouldn't we keep seeing these things whenever we have a storm or a power outage or another natural disaster?" asked Jenn Aiosa, senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

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"There was no good solution to this problem," said David Fidler, spokesman for Baltimore County's Department of Public Works. "The line had to be repaired immediately. Letting sewage spill into the river, while we repaired the line, was the only thing we could do. Otherwise, it would back up into homes."

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Another 16.5 million gallons spilled into other Baltimore County rivers, creeks and coves, including the Jones Falls and Gunpowder River, from a dozen sewage pumping stations that lost power during the storm. The stations were back in operation within a day or two, but Fidler said county repair crews couldn't get to them right away because of safety concerns about downed trees and power lines.
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money, money, money

[iemitsu]

1. guess its time for us poor, unempolyed folk to dig some ditches to

channel the sewage (whenever it spills) right to the neighborhoods of the rich.
i've got both the shovels and time.