Message from the Director
Jason W. Mitchell, Ed.D.
A lot has been happening at the Department of Public Works (DPW) since the start of 2023! This may be old news to some, I announced my resignation last month due family and health concerns. As a resident of this great city, it has been an honor to lead and work with the tremendous women and men who make up DPW. I’m grateful for their unwavering commitment and dedication to our community and DPW for proactively taking strides to make Baltimore cleaner and greener. It’s because of their commitment DPW is on a solid path forward with the work that needs to be done in the City of Baltimore.
With nearly two months into 2023, we were able to introduce Paperless Billing and PromisePay for our customers. Paperless Billing is an optional electronic water bill and PromisePay offers residents interest-free payment options if they fall behind on water bill payments. The introduction of these enhancements, Paperless Billing and PromisePay, are the latest in a series of upgrades and improvements that DPW has made to modernize to the City’s water billing operations.
Within the Office of Engineering and Construction (OEC), repairs continue on the Lake Montebello sinkhole in Northeast Baltimore to avoid water interruption to hundreds of residents. Throughout the entire department, we remain committed to providing ‘Best in Class’ service to our community and will ensure we work to meet the needs of our residents, customers, and employees, while demonstrating equity in all we do.
|
DPW is honored to be named a "Leading Utilities of the World" (LUOW) utility. LUOW is a network of the world's most forward-thinking water and wastewater utilities. "Its members represent the gold standard of utility innovation and performance throughout the developed world's water sector," according to the Global Water Leaders Group. DPW Water and Wastewater Bureau Head Yosef Kebede, P.E., attended the 2023 American Water Summit, where he joined national water industry leaders to accept the LUOW membership. Leading Utilities of the World is an initiative of the Global Water Leaders Group, a non-profit organization aiming to create a better story for water worldwide.
 Water and Wastewater Bureau Head Yosef Kebede joins national water industry leaders to accept Leading Utilities of the World membership. In the above photo, Mr. Kebede is the third person from the right end,
Photo credit: American Water Summit
Paperless billing and PromisePay offer Baltimore City residents an easier, more sustainable way to manage their water bills and access to flexible, interest-free payment plans. Instead of receiving a bill in the mail each month, DPW will send those who sign up for the paperless billing option an email notification when their monthly water bills are ready to view online. In addition, residents who need help paying their water bills are encouraged to visit DPW's Water Affordability Portal, where Baltimore City residents with unpaid water bills can sign up for interest-free PromisePay payment plans and determine their eligibility for additional water affordability programs, Water4All and the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.
The DPW Affordability portal also provides an easy-to-use screening tool to determine which affordability program residents may be eligible for, including the City of Baltimore’s Water4All Program and the State of Maryland’s Low Income Household Water Assistance Program. The Affordability Portal will quickly screen Baltimore City residents for eligibility and provide guidance on the application process. Since the launch of the innovative Water4All financial assistance program, there have been 1,952 total approved applicants. The total amount of financial assistance approved to homeowners is $1.3 million, and the total amount approved to tenants is $345,900. The Water4All discount program is open to Baltimore City residents with income less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. For example, for a 4-member household that would be less than $55,500 a year.
 
We are continuing the work on the Lake Montebello Sinkhole on Whitman Drive that happened in November 2022. Since discovering the sinkhole, contractors immediately began working to identify plausible solutions to help customers maintain sufficient services and prevent significant impacts.
Looking at the sinkhole and nearly 12-feet underground, you can visibly see numerous cracks in a 108-inch storm drain (the historic storm drain) that serves as the passage for 10-15 million gallons of water per day. Directly above the 108-inch storm drain, is an 84-inch water transmission main that had a significant damage and needed repairs – which is why a 48-inch bypass was temporarily installed – and has been fully operational since early December to prevent significant impact to customers in Zone 1.
We encourage residents and visitors, and non-authorized personnel to stay away from the construction site. Please be aware that heavy equipment will be operable during the day and there’s a continuous flow of commercial vehicles entering and exiting the construction site (off of Hillen Rd.). The disc golf course at Lake Montebello will remain closed while this work continues. Repairs are projected to be completed by early spring.
DPW’s Accepting Applications for the 2023 YH2O Career Mentoring Program
YH2O Applications will be accepted through Friday, February 24. Applicants’ interviews will be held on Monday, March 13, and Tuesday, March 14. The 2023 YH2O Career Mentoring Program begins Monday, March 20.
The YH2O Career Mentoring Program (“YH2O”) now serves Baltimore City, Baltimore, Anne Arundel, and Howard County residents, ages 18-24, who have a high school diploma or GED, are unemployed or underemployed, and are not currently enrolled in a job-training program or post-secondary education. Baltimore City is proud of the 154 young men and women who have successfully completed YH2O since its inception in 2015.
|
Residents Invited to Weigh in on Baltimore’s 10-Year Solid Waste Management Plan
DPW is updating the City’s 10-Year Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) and is seeking input from residents and other stakeholders – including environmental advocates; representatives from city businesses, schools, and hospitals; and those who live and work in Baltimore City. The State of Maryland requires Baltimore City to adopt and maintain a comprehensive solid waste management plan that covers at least the subsequent 10-year period. The 10-year Solid Waste Plan must be both approved by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and adopted by the Mayor and City Council.
The community meetings will present an overview of plan drafts at the 60%, 90%, and 99% benchmarks. Plan drafts will be released for a two-week public comment period before each public meeting. Residents and stakeholders who cannot attend meetings will have the opportunity to provide written comments. All meetings will be recorded and made available to the public.
 
The BMore LOVE (Learn. Organize. Volunteer. Engage.) Volunteer Network is a new DPW-led initiative that aims to build a culture of service and volunteerism in Baltimore City. Striving to improve and sustain vibrant communities. DPW will be better able to combat illegal dumping, promote anti-littering and proper trash disposal, and save our environment by protecting and conserving our water, minimizing food waste, and recycling.
The BMore LOVE Volunteer Network will support and partner with schools, businesses, nonprofits, faith-based institutions, and communities to host, organize and participate in activities and events supporting DPW efforts to keep Baltimore cleaner, greener and beautiful. The Eco-Warriors of the Future Schools Competition is open to all Baltimore City elementary, middle, and high schools to support efforts for a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful city. No need to fret, as a volunteer, you will receive a free t-shirt for participating. What are you waiting for Baltimore, come join the nearly
2,600 DPW volunteers. Register today!
|
