Baltimore City to tap Susquehanna River for drinking water starting Oct. 5 amid drought, tell me about this news today

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) began withdrawing water from the Susquehanna River to supplement the regional drinking water supply, responding to persistent drought conditions across Maryland that have strained local reservoirs.

Why the River Is Being Tapped

• Extended dry weather has led to low water levels in the Prettyboy and Loch Raven reservoirs.

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• The Susquehanna River serves as an established backup intake to help preserve the remaining stored reservoir reserves and prevent them from reaching critical thresholds.

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How the Process Works

• Susquehanna River water is pumped to the Montebello Water Filtration Plants in Baltimore.

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• It is blended with water from the Loch Raven Reservoir before undergoing the full multi-stage municipal treatment and testing process.

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• Authorities confirm the blended water complies with all state and federal drinking water standards.

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What Residents Should Expect

• Safety: The water remains completely safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing.

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• Aesthetics: River water naturally contains different mineral and organic profiles than still reservoir water, so some residents in Baltimore City and Baltimore County may notice subtle shifts in taste, odor, or color.

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• Affected Areas: The blend primarily serves customers on the Montebello system (mostly eastern portions of Baltimore City and Baltimore County). Customers supplied by the Liberty Reservoir system (western city areas and parts of Howard County) are not receiving Susquehanna water.

Duration and Conservation Measures There is no fixed end date; water withdrawals from the Susquehanna will continue until significant rainfall replenishes the reservoirs. Officials continue to ask residents and businesses to practice voluntary water conservationsuch as limiting lawn watering, washing vehicles less frequently, running only full laundry/dishwasher loads, and promptly fixing leaks.

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