Baltimore DPW tests emergency Susquehanna River water line
Baltimore’s Department of Public Works is testing an emergency system to bring water from the Susquehanna River to the city, marking the first use of this system in 20 years as a precaution during the ongoing drought. “We’re flushing the line to make sure it’s clean and ready to go, and we’re also testing the pump equipment as well as pipes to make sure they can handle the flow if we need it,” said DPW Director Matthew Garbark. The process begins in Cecil County, where water is pumped to the city and then diverted into a surge tower. The water is then pumped into a wash water lake outside the Montebello Water Filtration Plant. | LINK: U.S. Drought Monitor”Right now it is just a test,” Garbark said. “There are likely 20 years of debris and buildup in there. That’s going to wash out.”The water will eventually reach Lake Montebello, and DPW noted it could cause a fishy or swamp-like smell for about two days. Herb Naylor, chief of DPW’s Water Facilities Division, is monitoring the process and water levels at Loch Raven, Liberty, and Pretty Boy reservoirs.”In order to make sure that we keep those reservoirs full, we have to sometimes make decisions on how to recharge those lakes, and that means we may have to start to use our secondary source of water, which is the Susquehanna,” Naylor said. DPW emphasized that this is only a test and that water from the Susquehanna River is not being treated for drinking or added to Baltimore’s drinking water distribution system. In May, DPW encouraged people to conserve water by postponing lawn and garden watering, minimizing shower time, turning taps off while brushing teeth or shaving, refraining from filling swimming pools, among other actions.
Baltimore’s Department of Public Works is testing an emergency system to bring water from the Susquehanna River to the city, marking the first use of this system in 20 years as a precaution during the ongoing drought.
“We’re flushing the line to make sure it’s clean and ready to go, and we’re also testing the pump equipment as well as pipes to make sure they can handle the flow if we need it,” said DPW Director Matthew Garbark.
The process begins in Cecil County, where water is pumped to the city and then diverted into a surge tower. The water is then pumped into a wash water lake outside the Montebello Water Filtration Plant.
| LINK: U.S. Drought Monitor
“Right now it is just a test,” Garbark said. “There are likely 20 years of debris and buildup in there. That’s going to wash out.”
The water will eventually reach Lake Montebello, and DPW noted it could cause a fishy or swamp-like smell for about two days.
Herb Naylor, chief of DPW’s Water Facilities Division, is monitoring the process and water levels at Loch Raven, Liberty, and Pretty Boy reservoirs.
“In order to make sure that we keep those reservoirs full, we have to sometimes make decisions on how to recharge those lakes, and that means we may have to start to use our secondary source of water, which is the Susquehanna,” Naylor said.
DPW emphasized that this is only a test and that water from the Susquehanna River is not being treated for drinking or added to Baltimore’s drinking water distribution system.
In May, DPW encouraged people to conserve water by postponing lawn and garden watering, minimizing shower time, turning taps off while brushing teeth or shaving, refraining from filling swimming pools, among other actions.