Mayor Brandon M. Scott and DPW Expand Sewage Cleanup Program to Help More Baltimore Residents Experiencing Basement Backups
Expanded program provides eligible residents with professional cleanup and disinfection services for qualifying sewage backups, regardless of weather conditions
BALTIMORE, MD (Wednesday, October 28, 2026) – Mayor Brandon M. Scott and the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) are expanding the City’s Sewage Onsite Support (SOS) Cleanup Program to cover additional basement sewage backups. The expansion applies to qualifying backups that occur during dry weather when the blockage is determined to be on the City-owned side of the sewer lateral.
Previously, the SOS Cleanup Program covered only qualifying basement sewage backups associated with wet-weather events, such as heavy or sustained rainfall.
The expansion builds on DPW’s efforts to help residents address sewage backups to protect the public’s health and safety, reduce cleanup costs, and better understand the conditions that cause basement backups.
The SOS Cleanup Program expansion is an initiative that connects eligible Baltimore City residents with third-party contractors who provide professional cleaning and disinfection services following qualifying sewage backups. Under the expanded pilot, eligible residents can receive cleanup services at no cost for qualifying backups that occur during both wet and dry weather. Dry-weather backups can occur when debris or other obstructions restrict the flow of wastewater through a sewer line, even when there has been no recent rainfall.
“Residents deserve to feel safe in their homes and to know where to turn when a sewage backup occurs,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Expanding this program is an important step to help more families access professional cleanup services and navigate these difficult situations. Our administration is committed to protecting residents’ health and safety, responding to neighborhood concerns, and working with DPW to identify solutions.”
"Since taking office in 2024, making sure Baltimore families have somewhere to turn after a sewage backup has been one of my top priorities. A backup doesn’t wait for a storm, and neither should the help,” said City Councilman Paris Gray (District 8). “Expanding the SOS Cleanup Program to cover wet and dry weather events when city infrastructure fails means making some of our most vulnerable families whole and I want to thank DPW & Mayor Scott for making it happen. I’ll keep working to make sure every resident who needs this support knows about it and can get it."
“Expanding the SOS Cleanup Program allows us to provide more direct support to residents dealing with the disruption and health and safety concerns that come with a sewage backup,” said DPW Director Matthew Garbark. “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. That information helps DPW better understand residents’ needs and inform our ongoing work to address basement backups.”
DPW developed the expansion in coordination with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). Information gathered through the pilot has helped the department evaluate cleanup needs and guide program improvements.
How Residents Can Get Help
Baltimore City residents experiencing a basement sewage backup should contact 311 to report the incident. DPW will investigate the reported backup, assess its cause, and determine whether the incident qualifies for assistance through the SOS Cleanup Program. The cleanup is available to qualifying homeowners and renters.
The Direct Reimbursement Program Remains Available
DPW will continue to operate its Expedited Reimbursement Program for Sewage Backups alongside the SOS Cleanup Program. The reimbursement program provides eligible residents with up to $5,000 per household for qualifying sewage backup cleanup and disinfection expenses, subject to program requirements.
The programs offer different forms of assistance: SOS connects eligible residents directly with contractors for cleanup services, while the reimbursement program helps eligible residents recover qualifying expenses they have already incurred. Residents may receive assistance through one program, but not both, for the same backup.
For more information about eligibility requirements and how to request assistance, visit DPW’s SOS Cleanup Program webpage.
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