Latest news with #DPW
CBS News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Water service fully restored in Cockeysville after major water main break
Water service has been fully restored to residents and business owners in Cockeysville after a major water main break Friday afternoon. The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) crews worked through the night to complete emergency repairs to the 30-inch water main break on Saturday at 11223 York Road. However, if Baltimore County residents experience issues such as no water, very low pressure, or persistent discoloration, they may call 443-263-2220 or the City's 311 call center. York Road remains closed from Schilling to Ashland Road to allow for ongoing site work, according to DPW. A partial reopening of the roadway is tentatively expected on Sunday, July 20, depending on restoration efforts and safety assessments. Now that water has been restored, the water distribution site at the Giant parking lot at 11399 York Road has been closed. In the event of a water main break, DPW urges residents to take the following precautions: Run Cold Water – Flush your taps by running cold water for 5–10 minutes to remove any sediments Avoid Hot Water Use Initially – Do not use hot water until cold water runs clear to avoid pulling sediment into your water heater Clean Aerators – Remove and rinse faucet aerators/screens to clear any debris. Check for Discoloration – If water is discolored, continue flushing. If it doesn't clear, contact the number below.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Water main break expected to close Baltimore County road for 2 days, officials say
A water main break reported in Hunt Valley Friday could prompt a two-day road closure, according to the Baltimore County Department of Public Works (DPW). Contractors responded to the water main break around 11 a.m. on Friday on York Road between Ashland and Schilling roads. The section of York Road is closed for emergency repairs, officials said. WJZ was on the scene as water gushed into parking lots on both sides of York Road. The incident caused flooding along the road. One restaurant owner told WJZ that she sent her customers and employees away after she lost water. While the Baltimore region usually sees an uptick in water main breaks during freezing temperatures, a variety of other factors can also cause breaks. In January, DPW responded to nearly a dozen water main breaks in one day. According to live DPW maps, there are currently 10 water main issues in the region, including two in Baltimore County. Data shows the water main has been shut down since the break was reported.
CBS News
08-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Extreme heat alert issued in Baltimore Tuesday for triple digit heat index
Baltimore is under a Code Red Extreme Heat Alert Tuesday as the heat index is expected to reach triple digits during the afternoon. The alert is issued when the city sees dangerously high temperatures and humidity levels, which could put children and vulnerable adults at risk. On Tuesday, feels like temperatures could peak at 107 degrees, according to WJZ's First Alert Weather Team. Heat safety protocols in Baltimore When the heat alert is issued in Baltimore, several safety protocols are put in place to protect city employees, especially those who work outdoors, like sanitation crews and emergency personnel. Residents are also encouraged to take precautions during high temperatures. "Excessive heat is not just uncomfortable, it is a serious health risk – especially for older adults, children, individuals with chronic health challenges, those who work or spend time outdoors, and pets," said Mayor Brandon Scott. On Tuesday, Baltimore's Department of Public Works (DPW) implemented changes to trash pickup times for the summer. Collection times will change from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. in an effort to protect workers from the heat. The 5 a.m. collection time will continue through September 30. DPW's heat prevention plan also allows workers to take more breaks and end their routes early if the conditions become unsafe. Heat-related deaths Baltimore has reported one heat-related death so far this summer, according to health officials. In Maryland, at least eight people have died due to high temperatures as of July 2, according to a state Health Department report. The heat-related deaths were reported as Maryland experienced a heat wave that sent temperatures into the triple digits at the end of June. Cooling centers in Baltimore During the heat alert, the following cooling centers are open in Baltimore:
CBS News
04-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Baltimore DPW changes trash pickup time to protect workers from summer heat
Baltimore's Department of Public Works (DPW) is changing the trash pickup time for city residents in an effort to protect employees from the summer heat. Trash and recycling collection will move from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. between Tuesday, July 8, and September 30, DPW officials said. The collection days will not change, but residents are asked to place their bins out by 5 a.m. to avoid missed pickups. Protecting DPW workers from heat The change is part of DPW's Heat Illness Prevention Plan (HIPP), which was developed after the death of Ronald Silver II, an employee who overheated while working a trash route in August 2024. The heat index was almost 109 on the day that Silver died, according to a Maryland Department of Labor investigation. His death prompted several investigations into DPW, including one by the city's inspector general, which determined that a lack of air conditioning in trash trucks contributed to Silver's death. Silver's death, and the death of another employee - Timothy Cartwell - who was crushed by a trash truck, led DPW to be cited by the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health for failure to protect workers from dangerous heat and keep a place of employment free from hazards. DPW Director Khalil Zaied spoke with WJZ after the investigations, where he committed to developing heat procedures for employees. The department's Heat Illness Prevention Plan (HIPP) includes heat safety training, hydration protocols and schedule changes that are implemented during high temperatures. "With increasingly high summer temperatures, we are taking proactive steps to keep our employees safe while maintaining reliable service for residents," Zaied said. "Starting collections earlier helps reduce workers' exposure to extreme heat, and it reflects our continued commitment to protecting the people who keep Baltimore clean."
San Francisco Chronicle
01-07-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
S.F.'s quest for a better trash can was plagued by high costs. Will this time be different?
San Francisco nearly gave up trying to replace its troublesome old public trash cans last year with sleek, custom-designed receptacles, amid questions over their cost. Now the effort has come back to life. In 2018, the city asked industrial design firms to create three prototypes, of which the 'Slim Silhouette' design won out, a sleek silver can with two circular openings, one for trash, the other for recycling. Gordon said the design has since been tweaked after a trial run of the cans last year. The Department of Public Works hopes to have the new cans on the street within a year, but maybe sooner, she said. The development is a step forward after uncertainty over the new trash cans' future. Last year, San Francisco's quest for a new modern trash can all but died. After spending more than half a million dollars on prototypes for a new bespoke disposal bin for the city, a lack of funding forced DPW to put its replacement project on hold. Gordon said DPW has been working to ensure that any chosen vendor can handle the mass production of about 3,000 cans while staying within the budget. That might be difficult in a city notorious for delays and cost overruns. The goal is to find a manufacturer to produce the order at $3,000 per can, which Gordon said is on par with sturdy off-the-shelf models. Once a manufacturer is selected and starts building the cans, Gordon said DPW plans to start a pilot program to set up a few new trash cans in certain parts of the city quickly while the department waits for the rest. 'We want to put out a limited number right away to test them, to see if they're working,' she said. 'Once we have contact with a manufacturer, we're hopeful it will fall within our planned budget.' The city is currently still using green cans from the 1990s, but they are plagued with issues and they often make street corners dirtier because of scavengers. The cans have been criticized for not working as intended, with non-trash items intermixing with garbage because of a faulty recycling compartment. The updated trash cans will include a strengthened locking mechanism and be built from materials that make it easier to remove graffiti and tags. In response to frequent concerns about people digging through city trash, the new models are also designed to be more secure. 'Harder to rummage through — all things we've heard for years,' Gordon said. Some residents have called on the city to simply purchase commercial Bigbelly trash cans, already used in some areas. But Gordon noted that community benefit districts have been pulling those out due to ongoing maintenance costs. But that's not all that has upset some residents and critics of the department. When DPW embarked on finding new cans, the city was criticized for its decision to design its own instead of buying an off-the-shelf model. For example, the new cans will have openings large enough for small pizza boxes to go through, but they are also tamper-proof and will be easier to clean and service. Later in 2021, the city revealed that the cost of each custom prototype ranges from $11,000 to $20,000, sparking public outcry and national headlines. The city emphasized that these were not the final production costs, but design and testing prototypes — a standard practice in product development. The idea of spending that much on new trash cans, even temporarily, became a political flashpoint and prompted then-Supervisor Matt Haney and others to call on the city to buy pre-existing models, but the department has decided to continue its project. The timeline remains fluid in terms of when the city will get its new trash cans. But city officials are optimistic. 'It's a very long contracting process, and we know we have to get in the queue with other procurements they're doing citywide,' she said. 'But once we have contact with a manufacturer, we're hopeful it will fall within our planned budget.'
