Pollution Prevention

Water Quality

In accordance with the federal Clean Water Act, Baltimore is striving to restore our water quality to fishable and swimmable levels by 2020, a very aggressive goal given the challenges we are facing.

Baltimore has thousands of stormwater outfall pipes that drain our streets and private land. Many contain sewer leakage and other pollutants and chemicals. Trash also washes from streets into these stormwater pipes, ultimately reaching Baltimore streams and our harbor. Baltimore Harbor is the ‘bottom of the bowl,’ where most regional stream systems empty into. To reach our goal, we must employ a variety of creative strategies that include the watershed land in both Baltimore City and surrounding jurisdictions. Here are six strategies to help:

  • Implement recommendations in the City County Watershed Agreement
  • Study creation of a stormwater utility or other new funding sources
  • Reduce amount of impervious surfaces and increase on-site stormwater treatment
  • Protect and restore Baltimore’s stream corridors
  • Create watershed-based natural resource management plans
  • Increase actions by individual property owners to treat stormwater
Metrics:
Partner Organizations:
What You Can Do
  1. Make your lawn Bay-friendly by planting native grasses that don't require watering and reducing or eliminating use of chemicals and pesticides that eventually end up in our waters
  2. Avoid pouring toxic substances down storm drains that go directly into our streams
  3. Plant a tree! Trees prevent erosion by holding soil in place with their roots and they also help soak up and treat chemicals in our stromwater.
  4. Conserve water at home by taking shorter showers, washing dishes by hand, and avoid keeping faucets turned on
  5. Do your part to prevent and clean up litter which can ultimately end up in our water bodies
  6. Get involved in your local watershed group