A plan is moving forward to stop the miles-long sewage buildup that causes fecal matter to flow into Baltimore’s waterways nearly every time it rains.

The city’s Board of Estimates this morning approved a $430 million payout for a construction project known as Headworks that will install eight hydraulic pumps and two storage tanks inside or near the pipes leading to the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Baltimore County. The city and county are splitting the cost 50/50 at $215 million apiece, according to board minutes from today.

The Back River plant processes sewage flowing from Baltimore-area toilets into the city’s century-old sewage system. However, a hydraulic restriction discovered years ago by engineers has caused backups of up to 10 miles, sometimes stretching all the way to Charles Village.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE