Baltimore City has expanded its Sewage Onsite Support Cleanup Program to provide professional cleanup and disinfection services for qualifying basement sewage
backups during both wet and dry weather.
Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Department of Public Works (DPW) announced an expansion of the City’s Sewage Onsite Support (SOS) Cleanup Program on October 28, extending assistance to residents experiencing certain basement sewage backups during dry weather.
Previously, the program covered qualifying backups associated with wet-weather events, such as heavy or sustained rainfall. Under the expanded pilot, residents may also qualify for cleanup assistance when a dry-weather backup is caused by a blockage on the City-owned side of a sewer lateral. Dry-weather backups can occur when debris or other obstructions restrict wastewater flow through sewer lines, even without recent rainfall. The expansion aims to address these incidents while helping the City better understand the conditions that contribute to basement sewage backups.
Through the SOS Cleanup Program, eligible homeowners and renters can receive professional cleaning and disinfection services at no cost. The City connects qualifying residents with third-party contractors to perform the work.
“By connecting eligible residents with professional cleaning and disinfection services, we can help ease the burden of cleanup while gathering important information about where backups occur and what may be causing them,” said DPW Director Matthew Garbark.
DPW developed the expansion in coordination with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). Information collected through the pilot will also help the department evaluate cleanup needs and guide future program improvements.
Two Assistance Options for Residents
Baltimore City will continue operating its Expedited Reimbursement Program for Sewage Backups alongside the expanded SOS Cleanup Program. While both programs address sewage backup cleanup costs, they provide different forms of assistance:
- SOS Cleanup Program: Connects eligible residents directly with contractors who provide professional cleanup and disinfection services at no cost for qualifying backups.
- Expedited Reimbursement Program: Provides eligible residents with reimbursement of up to $5,000 per household for qualifying cleanup and disinfection expenses already incurred.
The expanded program provides an additional response option for sewage backups associated with City-owned infrastructure, while allowing DPW to gather information that may inform longer-term infrastructure and service improvements.
For more information about eligibility and available assistance, visit Baltimore City’s Sewage Onsite Support Cleanup Program webpage.
