Amid continuing drought conditions, Baltimore City’s reservoirs remain under pressure, with the Department of Public Works (DPW) saying in July that reservoirs were more than seven feet below normal levels.
Residents are asked to enact voluntary water conservation measures while Baltimore City is in a drought warning status. In a warning situation, the state aims to reduce water use by 10-15 percent.
Last month, DPW tested the emergency water supply system as a protective measure against prolonged drought. They tested infrastructure and operating procedures to get water from the Susquehanna River to Baltimore City residents in case conditions worsened. While the Susquehanna River is not part of the city’s normal daily water supply, it is available as an emergency source during severe drought conditions.
There are four key indicators for drought: rainfall, stream flow, groundwater and reservoir levels. Of those, three are normal, but groundwater levels are in the emergency range.
The city’s water system serves parts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties.
The Baltimore City DPW has continued to monitor rainfall, stream flows, reservoir levels and water demand. Rainfall offers some temporary relief to current drought conditions but there has not been enough to impact reservoir levels in any significant way. DPW is also monitoring Prettyboy, Liberty and Loch Raven reservoirs for water-supply conditions.
In the meantime, city and surrounding county officials ask residents to be judicious in their water use and offer the following tips to help conserve water:
- Avoid lawn and garden watering.
- Avoid car, boat and equipment washing. Only use commercial car wash facilities that recycle their wash water.
- Avoid washing sidewalks, driveways and other outdoor surfaces.
- Repair leaking faucets, hoses and other fixtures.
- Run only full loads in dishwashers and washing machines.
- Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving.
- Take shorter showers and use water wisely.
- Avoid refilling your pool.
Baltimore Fishbowl reached out to the Baltimore City Department of Public Works and will update this article if more information becomes available.
