Much Of MD Under Drought Watch, Residents Asked To Conserve Water

BALTIMORE, MD — Maryland state officials issued a drought watch for a large portion of the state this week and encouraged residents and businesses to reduce water usage until conditions improve.

The Maryland Department of the Environment issued the watch for western and portions of central Maryland based on lower-than-normal stream flows and groundwater levels, state officials said in a statement.

Affected counties include Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Washington. Areas served by the Baltimore City or Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission public water systems are excluded from the watch.

In addition to increasing water supply monitoring, state officials encouraged residents and businesses to reduce water usage while the watch remains in effect.

"Water conservation is a good practice year-round, but we are asking residents and businesses to pay particular attention during the summer months when the state can experience hot and dry conditions," Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain said in a statement.

So far, the state is experiencing no water shortages and no mandatory use restrictions have been issued.

To reduce water usage, state officials encouraged Marylanders to do the following. A comprehensive list of suggestions is available online.

• Limit the use and duration of sprinklers for lawns.
• Take short showers and avoid baths.
• Do not leave the faucet running while shaving or brushing your teeth.
• Run the dishwasher only when full.
• Don’t pre-rinse dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.
• Run full loads of laundry instead of many small loads.
• Collect rainwater for reuse in the garden whenever possible.