Exposure to raw sewage from failing infrastructure can lead to health issues and distress, especially in marginalized urban communities. Sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) that release untreated sewage affect cities worldwide, with up to 75,000 occurrences annually in the U.S. Baltimore frequently experiences SSOs and basement backups due to aging sewer systems, exposing communities to pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant (AR) bacteria. No comprehensive studies have evaluated exposure to these pathogens or infrastructure damage impacts. The Water Emergency Team (WET) addresses these gaps by responding to SSOs in underserved African American communities in Baltimore. WET conducts inspections, surveys, and sample analyses for AR bacteria, reporting findings to the community. Collaborating with local organizations, WET aims to empower communities and inform policymakers, highlighting infrastructure challenges exacerbated by climate change.
Latest Findings
Press Releases
Elevated E. coli, staph still detected in Potomac river 4 weeks after sewage spill (University of Maryland, School of Public Health)
UMD Team Finds E. coli, MRSA Contaminating Potomac River After Sewage Spill (Maryland Today)
WET Lab in the News
Potomac Sewage Spill Becomes Ecological Disaster and Political Fight
A D.C. utility had been working for weeks to repair a collapsed sewer line when the president blamed Maryland’s governor for the contamination on Monday.
How sewage overflow near Clara Barton Parkway could affect local environment
Crews are still working to contain the bubbling geyser of raw sewage at the Clara Barton Parkway. News4’s Jackie Bensen explains how long it could take to stop the overflow.
Nearly 250 Million Gallons of Raw Sewage are Flowing into the Potomac
Assistant Professor talks with Jake Tapper about the burst pipe just outside of Washington, D.C.
Leadership Team
Marccus Hendricks
Director, SIRJ Lab ; Associate Professor
Rachel E. Rosenberg Goldstein
Assistant Professor, Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health (GEOH)
Additional Team Members
- Priscila B. Ramalho Alves, Lab Manager and Post-doctoral Associate of the Stormwater Infrastructure Resilience and Justice (SIRJ) Lab
- Nick An, Doctoral Student in the Environmental Health Sciences Program at the University of Maryland School of Public Health
- Brienna Anderson-Coughlin, Post-Doctoral Associate in the in the Environmental Health Sciences Program at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, Global Environmental, and Occupational Health Department (GEOH)
- Claire Barlow, Doctoral Student in the Environmental Health Sciences Program at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, Global Environmental, and Occupational Health Department (GEOH)
- Kathryn Dixon, Doctoral Student in the Environmental Health Sciences Program at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, Global Environmental, and Occupational Health Department (GEOH)
- Shachar Gazit-Rosenthal, Project Manager for the Water Emergency Team
- Maeghen Goode, Doctoral Student at the University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation
- Sofia Santos, Community Engagement Coordinator for Prince George's County and Montgomery County
