Baltimore will blend water from Susquehanna River with reservoir water as supply falls

Baltimore will soon start supplementing water from its reservoirs with treated water from the Susquehanna River amid drought conditions, officials said Monday.

Starting in late September or early October, water from the Susquehanna River will be blended with that from the Liberty, Loch Raven and Prettyboy reservoirs to supply residents, the Department of Public Works said in a news release.

Residents in East Baltimore and Baltimore County will most likely be affected, officials said.

Officials said they don’t expect residents to notice the addition to their water because it will be treated before it flows from their faucets, but some may observe minor changes in taste, smell and appearance.

“River water, by nature, carries higher sediment and organic material compared to water from reservoirs,” DPW officials said in a news release. “However, blending the Susquehanna and reservoir water should mean minimal differences, if any at all.”

The Susquehanna River is available as a supplement to Baltimore’s water supply in times of severe drought. The agency notes that it’s been used before, though DPW spokesperson Mary Stewart couldn’t say when that last happened.

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows 88.3% of Maryland, including Baltimore City and Baltimore County, as being abnormally dry. Erik Taylor, a meteorologist for the Baltimore/Washington office of the National Weather Service, said 27.21 inches of rain has fallen in the Baltimore region so far this year, short of the 32.86-inch norm.

Recent rain events didn’t make much of a difference. Taylor said Baltimore and Baltimore County needed 1.7 to 1.8 inches more rain over the past 30 days to reach normal levels.

According to Taylor, the reservoirs’ issues are a result of two to three years of declining rainfall. Earlier this month, DPW closed the Prettyboy Reservoir boat ramp because of low water levels.

In an email, Stewart said the agency will draw from the Susquehanna River “on a regular, recurring basis to supplement the water supply and maximize recovery of the reservoirs.” How long this lasts depends on whether conditions at the reservoirs improve, which depends on rainfall, DPW officials said.

In the interim, DPW officials encourage residents to avoid watering lawns and washing cars, boats and outdoor areas to conserve water. They are urging residents to take shorter showers, turn off the faucet while brushing their teeth, repair any leaking faucets or hoses, and run full loads in dishwashers and washing machines.