DPW urges Baltimore area residents to conserve water following fire at pumping station
BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore City Department of Public Works and its regional partners are urging residents and businesses in the Baltimore area to reduce their water usage, according to the Office of Mayor Brandon Scott.
The water conservation request applies to residents and businesses in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County, according to city officials.
Harford County was initially included in the conversation request, but the Baltimore City Department of Public Works removed the county from the list on Friday.
That's because Harford County buys untreated water from the City of Baltimore, according to city officials.
The request for voluntary water reduction comes after a fire occurred at one of DPW's drinking-water pumping stations, located in Baltimore County, on Thursday morning, city officials said.
RELATED: DPW urges Baltimore area residents to conserve water following fire at pumping station
Due to a fire at a DPW Water Pumping Station in Baltimore County, we — along with county and state partners — are encouraging all residents and businesses throughout the regional service area to consider reducing their water consumption and avoid excessive usage.
— Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) July 14, 2023
The Baltimore City Department of Public Works wants residents and businesses in and around the city of Baltimore to reduce the amount of water used to avoid placing additional stress on the water system while repairs are underway.
The incident caused the station to lose power and damaged two of its pumps, resulting in heightened stress on the entire water system, said Mayor Brandon Scott in a press release.
"We had a fire as you know at the pumping station yesterday. We're having our folks on site, I've already started with emergency operations under Chief Wallace's leadership. We are asking folks to do this out of an abundance of caution," Scott stated.
According to the Mayor's office, residents should avoid watering lawns and gardens, washing cars, and leaving the faucet running unnecessarily while brushing their teeth or shaving.
"Folks are going to be on-site again today. We're going to be working with electricians, everybody, to see when and how quickly we're able to repair it and get it back up. As soon as we know, we will let everyone know," Scott said.
Scott assured residents that the drinking water's quality remains unaffected. As the city works towards a solution, residents are reminded that these voluntary restrictions are in place to preserve the community's resources in this challenging time.
Here are some voluntary steps to reduce personal water usage like:
- Avoiding watering lawns and gardens
- Avoiding washing cars, vehicles, boats, or other outdoor equipment
- Avoiding washing outdoor surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, parking areas, and patios
- Not letting the faucet flow unnecessarily while brushing your teeth or shaving
- Using the proper water level or load size selection on the washing machine
- Running the dishwasher only when full and avoid pre-rinsing dishes
- Running full loads of laundry, versus smaller loads
- Repair or replace leaking hoses and sprinklers