Cold Temperatures Produced High Volume of Water Related Customer Service Request

Cold Temperatures Produced

High Volume of Water-Related Customer Service Requests

 
 BALTIMORE, MD — Due to several days of sustained cold temperatures, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) has experienced an unusually large volume customer service requests (CSRs), with nearly 5,000 water-related calls logged in the City’s CSR system within the last seven days.

“DPW crews are working hard to address the back-log of customer service requests, especially those related to water outages,” said DPW Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E. “We want these issues fixed as soon as possible and are adjusting our workforce schedules and assignments and securing new equipment."

 The water-related CSRs have primarily reported no water, exterior water leaks, and water in basement.

 The number of CSRs started to climb on Sunday, February 15, when area temperatures dropped below the freezing mark, with 432 CSRs logged into the system. Area temperatures did not start to rise significantly until Sunday, February 22, when 491 CSRs were received.

The days with the highest volume of CSRs were Monday, February 16(1,218 CSRs), Friday, February 20, (1,365 CSRs), and Saturday, February 21 (783 CSRs).

With a low of 3 degrees predicted for late tonight, Monday, February 23, water customers are urged to prepare now for what could be more disrupted water service ahead.


Let the Pipes Drip


The Baltimore City Department of Public Works has been providing simple hints for winter preparedness, including:

• Always keep on hand a three day supply of bottled water; one gallon per person per day.
• Let a thin stream of cold water run from a basement faucet. The stream should be a continuous flow, about the thickness of a pencil lead. This water can be caught in a bucket and used later as laundry or dish water.
• If your pipe is frozen, gently warm it with hot air from a blow dryer at the point where it enters your house.
• Be sure you know the location of the water shutoff valve in your home. Check it periodically to ensure it works properly.
• Be sure to shut off water to outside faucets.
• Periodically monitor your sump pump. A frozen drain pipe could result in a flooded basement.
• Insulate pipes in unheated parts of your house. Be especially alert if you have had frozen pipes in the past.

The Utility Maintenance Division of DPW’s Bureau of Water and Wastewater has gone to 12-hour shifts in order to provide round-the-clock coverage for main breaks. Workers in the Bureau’s Meter Shop have been temporarily assigned to investigate reports of customers without water. Contractors have been called in to provide quick assistance as necessary. But even this extended workforce has scrambled to keep up with the elements.


Customers in the City who find themselves without water should call 311 to report the outage. Customers in Baltimore County should call 410-396-5352 to report disrupted service. If the problem is a frozen or broken pipe on the customer’s property, it is up to the customer to call a plumber for assistance. Customers in the City may also consider buying a private water line protection plan, such as that offered at www.BaltimoreServiceRepairs.com

Free Home Buying Counseling with NHS

FREE Neighborhood Counseling Session

Get advice on :

Home buying & renting

Housing rehab to help improve existing living conditions

Financing & loans

Tuesday, February 24

6-7pm

Govans Library

5714 Bellona Ave

For more info contact baltimorebateman@gmail.com

Scholarship Info: College Bound Foundation

The CollegeBound Foundation is now accepting applications for its Last-Dollar Grant award (up to $3,000). To qualify, a student must be a graduate from a Baltimore City Public High School and demonstrate an economic need. Also available are over 60 scholarships based on academic merit or service learning, ranging from a one-time $400 award to a four-year full tuition award. Applications are due by March 1, 2015 and are available online at scholarships.mycbf.net/stars  For more information, call The CollegeBound Foundation on 410-783-2905 or email mthornton@collegeboundfoundation.org

Tips for Winter Preparedness

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works has been providing simple hints for winter preparedness, including:

• Always keep on hand a three day supply of bottled water; one gallon per person per day.
• Let a thin stream of cold water run from a basement faucet. The stream should be a continuous flow, about the thickness of a pencil lead. This water can be caught in a bucket and used later as laundry or dish water.
• If your pipe is frozen, gently warm it with hot air from a blow dryer at the point where it enters your house.
• Be sure you know the location of the water shutoff valve in your home. Check it periodically to ensure it works properly.
• Be sure to shut off water to outside faucets.
• Periodically monitor your sump pump. A frozen drain pipe could result in a flooded basement.
• Insulate pipes in unheated parts of your house. Be especially alert if you have had frozen pipes in the past.

BEC 2015 Recap

In January a delegation from Wilson Park Northern descended  to Waverly Elementary Middle School for the 2015 Legislative Preview of the Baltimore Education Coalition.

Governor Hogan, had proposed a $35 million budget cut to Baltimore City Schools, education activist, educators , and community members from across the City gather to mobilize to petition the Governor and the General Assembly to stop the budget cuts with post cards, letter writing campaign, phone calls, and a social media campaign #stop35mCuts

Note: Flight (5723 York Road) provided the meal for the meeting. (Two Thumbs Up) There is a 10% discount for Community Groups the month of February.

Employment Opportunities

Employment Opportunities:



·         LOCAL Job Openings:  A new Shoppers grocery store is coming to our community and will be hiring.  Apply Online @ www.shoppersfood.com .  A March 2015 Opening is anticipated at The Alameda Marketplace Shopping Center.



·       Here's How You Can Apply for Amazon's 1,000 Baltimore Job Openings:  Amazon.com Inc. is beginning to hire more than 1,000 workers for its new Baltimore fulfillment center on Broening Highway.

The online retailer isn't disclosing wages for the jobs, but says the median Amazon fulfillment center worker earns 30 percent more money than the median retail store worker (it didn't provide specific numbers). The jobs also come with health insurance, retirement benefits and tuition assistance.
Job-seekers can complete applications on site or by going through Amazon's application website



·         YouthWorks  2015:  YouthWorks 2015 summer job registration has started.  Baltimore City's YouthWorks summer jobs program will match young people between the ages of 14 and 21 to five-week work experiences with private sector, nonprofit, and city and state government employers. The program will operate from June 29 through July 31, 2015.



The YouthWorks slogan "Summer Jobs Launch Careers" describes the lasting effect that a productive summer job can have on a young person. Through targeted matching of jobs to older teens' career interests and an emphasis on effective work behaviors and financial literacy for all participants, YouthWorks is sure to be a success this summer and beyond as it helps prepare our future workforce. For more information about YouthWorks, please contact the YouthWorks office at 410-396-JOBS (5627) or summerjobs@oedworks.com .