Baltimore water supply drought response

Due to prolonged drought conditions and declining reservoir levels, Baltimore officials prepared to supplement the city’s drinking water supply with water from the Susquehanna River. In late September, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works announced plans to blend river water with existing supplies from the Loch Raven, Liberty, and Prettyboy reservoirs.

By early October, the supplemental measure was implemented. The Susquehanna River water is being blended with water from the Loch Raven Reservoir before undergoing treatment at the Montebello water treatment plants. This supply primarily serves customers in portions of Baltimore City and Baltimore County, while residents served by the Liberty system are not expected to receive the blended water.

Officials have stated that while the water remains safe and meets all state and federal standards, residents may notice slight changes in the taste, smell, or color due to higher sediment and organic material levels in the river water. Authorities continue to urge residents and businesses to practice water conservation.