UPDATE: Harford County has been removed from the list of affected counties.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Baltimore City Department of Public Works has asked Baltimore area residents to limit excessive water usage.
The voluntary water restriction affects residents in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, and Harford County,
According to DPW, the restriction was issued due to a fire at one of its drinking-water pumping stations in Baltimore County on Thursday morning.
Officials said voluntary steps to reduce water usage include:
- 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
The water restriction does not include limiting normal water usage for cooking, drinking, or cleaning.
