A peek at leaks and basement backups: a pilot survey exploring the impacts and outcomes of untreated sewage in homes
This study explores the outcomes and impacts of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and basement backups in underserved communities in Baltimore, Maryland. The larger effort is an environmental and community-driven mixed-methods project, however, the research in this manuscript focuses on the household...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Communications |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/adcb06 |
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| author | Maeghen Goode John Junior Abu Priscila B R Alves Emily M H Woerner Taeilorae Levell-Young Taylor Smith-Hams Alice Volpitta Rita Crews Malika Brown Rachel E Rosenberg Goldstein Marccus D Hendricks |
| author_facet | Maeghen Goode John Junior Abu Priscila B R Alves Emily M H Woerner Taeilorae Levell-Young Taylor Smith-Hams Alice Volpitta Rita Crews Malika Brown Rachel E Rosenberg Goldstein Marccus D Hendricks |
| author_sort | Maeghen Goode |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study explores the outcomes and impacts of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and basement backups in underserved communities in Baltimore, Maryland. The larger effort is an environmental and community-driven mixed-methods project, however, the research in this manuscript focuses on the household survey portion with residents who have experienced SSOs or sewage backups. Based on the snowball sampling method applied, the resulting residents engaged are predominantly African-American individuals, females, homeowners, and residents between the ages of 50 and 69. Strikingly, 70% of respondents reported that their frequency of SSOs is between moderate to frequent. The findings reveal that SSOs are a pervasive issue affecting residents’ physical and mental health and overall quality of life. Despite residents’ perceptions that their household infrastructure is in good condition, the recurring nature of SSOs highlights systemic problems within the city’s aging sewer systems, urging a deeper understanding of the social and structural vulnerabilities involved. This research calls attention to the importance of comprehensive interventions, including effective risk communication strategies and substantial investment in infrastructure rehabilitation, to mitigate the risks posed by SSOs and promote long-term resilience in urban environments. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of community-driven research in addressing engineering, urban planning, and public health challenges with particular support for the most affected populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-16a69b2e5d3a4c969e2e33585d06bff7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2515-7620 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-16a69b2e5d3a4c969e2e33585d06bff72025-08-20T02:24:59ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Communications2515-76202025-01-017404502510.1088/2515-7620/adcb06A peek at leaks and basement backups: a pilot survey exploring the impacts and outcomes of untreated sewage in homesMaeghen Goode0John Junior Abu1Priscila B R Alves2Emily M H Woerner3Taeilorae Levell-Young4Taylor Smith-Hams5Alice Volpitta6Rita Crews7Malika Brown8Rachel E Rosenberg Goldstein9https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8190-9376Marccus D Hendricks10https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1072-100XStormwater Infrastructure Resilience and Justice (SIRJ) Lab, School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, University of Maryland , College Park, MD, United States of AmericaStormwater Infrastructure Resilience and Justice (SIRJ) Lab, School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, University of Maryland , College Park, MD, United States of AmericaStormwater Infrastructure Resilience and Justice (SIRJ) Lab, School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, University of Maryland , College Park, MD, United States of AmericaDepartment of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health , College Park, MD, United States of AmericaDepartment of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health , College Park, MD, United States of AmericaBlue Water Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States of AmericaBlue Water Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States of AmericaBelair-Edison Community Association, Baltimore, MD, United States of AmericaCherry Hill Development Corporation, Baltimore, MD, United States of AmericaDepartment of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health , College Park, MD, United States of AmericaStormwater Infrastructure Resilience and Justice (SIRJ) Lab, School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, University of Maryland , College Park, MD, United States of AmericaThis study explores the outcomes and impacts of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and basement backups in underserved communities in Baltimore, Maryland. The larger effort is an environmental and community-driven mixed-methods project, however, the research in this manuscript focuses on the household survey portion with residents who have experienced SSOs or sewage backups. Based on the snowball sampling method applied, the resulting residents engaged are predominantly African-American individuals, females, homeowners, and residents between the ages of 50 and 69. Strikingly, 70% of respondents reported that their frequency of SSOs is between moderate to frequent. The findings reveal that SSOs are a pervasive issue affecting residents’ physical and mental health and overall quality of life. Despite residents’ perceptions that their household infrastructure is in good condition, the recurring nature of SSOs highlights systemic problems within the city’s aging sewer systems, urging a deeper understanding of the social and structural vulnerabilities involved. This research calls attention to the importance of comprehensive interventions, including effective risk communication strategies and substantial investment in infrastructure rehabilitation, to mitigate the risks posed by SSOs and promote long-term resilience in urban environments. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of community-driven research in addressing engineering, urban planning, and public health challenges with particular support for the most affected populations.https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/adcb06environmental and community-driven approachpilot surveysanitary sewer overflows (SSOs)underserved populationwaterborne exposure |
| spellingShingle | Maeghen Goode John Junior Abu Priscila B R Alves Emily M H Woerner Taeilorae Levell-Young Taylor Smith-Hams Alice Volpitta Rita Crews Malika Brown Rachel E Rosenberg Goldstein Marccus D Hendricks A peek at leaks and basement backups: a pilot survey exploring the impacts and outcomes of untreated sewage in homes Environmental Research Communications environmental and community-driven approach pilot survey sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) underserved population waterborne exposure |
| title | A peek at leaks and basement backups: a pilot survey exploring the impacts and outcomes of untreated sewage in homes |
| title_full | A peek at leaks and basement backups: a pilot survey exploring the impacts and outcomes of untreated sewage in homes |
| title_fullStr | A peek at leaks and basement backups: a pilot survey exploring the impacts and outcomes of untreated sewage in homes |
| title_full_unstemmed | A peek at leaks and basement backups: a pilot survey exploring the impacts and outcomes of untreated sewage in homes |
| title_short | A peek at leaks and basement backups: a pilot survey exploring the impacts and outcomes of untreated sewage in homes |
| title_sort | peek at leaks and basement backups a pilot survey exploring the impacts and outcomes of untreated sewage in homes |
| topic | environmental and community-driven approach pilot survey sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) underserved population waterborne exposure |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/adcb06 |
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