Two separate water main breaks in the Edgemere neighborhood of Baltimore County left residents without running water Wednesday, turning blocks of the community into a mess of murky runoff as crews scrambled to track down the leaks. Viewers shared photos late Wednesday evening that showed water spewing from the ground and coursing down neighborhood streets, and several blocks were affected. Neighbors reported intermittent water pressure and said some were warned that repairs could stretch on for days.
According to CBS Baltimore, the Department of Public Works identified an 8-inch main break along the 7300 block of Waldman Avenue and handed that repair to a contractor. By Thursday morning, crews were working around a large excavation at the site. CBS Baltimore also reported a separate break along River Drive, with officials saying crews planned to move there next once work on Waldman wrapped up.
Longtime resident Keith Taylor told CBS Baltimore he spent part of Thursday filling buckets from passing trucks because his home had no running water at all. "We had fire trucks here, and we called 311... they're saying it may be five to seven days, so we're kind of concerned about that," he said. Taylor added that elderly neighbors were particularly vulnerable in the outage and that storm drains appeared to be carrying dirty water toward the Chesapeake. CBS Baltimore reports the Department of Public Works said it did not yet have an estimated time for restoring service while repair work continued.
Regional Strain And Aging Pipes Complicate Fixes
The Baltimore City Department of Public Works has been urging residents to conserve water as reservoirs ran low this spring, a move meant to protect the regional supply and ease stress on the system, according to Baltimore City DPW. Recent water-quality notices affecting other parts of Baltimore County have been cited as another sign of strain on the system, as Baltimore Brew reported.
The conservation notice from Baltimore City DPW includes options for reporting issues and lists county numbers for leak reports at 443-263-2220 or 410-396-5352. Officials say the age of many water mains in the region can make breaks harder to fix and can stretch repairs into longer, more complicated jobs than anyone would like.
What Residents Can Do
Residents are advised to keep clean containers reserved for drinking water and separate containers for flushing toilets, check on elderly or mobility-limited neighbors, and steer clear of excavation sites when driving. If your home is without water, follow guidance from local authorities and consider short-term conservation measures until service comes back. Officials say crews are prioritizing public-safety work and will stay on the job until the damaged pipes are repaired.
Neighbors' accounts and the photos shared with local news outlets explain why the mood in Edgemere is more than just annoyance over low pressure. Concerns about older residents, local drainage, and possible environmental impacts are driving a lot of the worry. Crews remained on site Thursday working to complete repairs, and officials said they will continue to provide updates as they are available.
