Anne Arundel County officials announced yesterday mandatory water restrictions, effective Friday, for 30,000 residents in the northeastern portion of the county in an effort to ease peak demand and maintain water pressure to extinguish summer brush fires.
The announcement follows a warning issued last week that a break in a Baltimore City water main that provides 10 million gallons of water a day to county residents might not be fixed before the end of the year.
County Executive Janet S. Owens ordered residents and business owners in Pasadena, Glen Burnie and the Marley Neck area - including ZIP codes 21226, 21122 and 21060 - to conserve water from 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday and from 5 p.m. Friday to midnight Sunday, holidays included.
During restricted hours, residents in the affected area may not water lawns or gardens, wash cars, trucks or boats, clean sidewalks, patios or deck furniture, or top off swimming pools or fountains. Violators face fines of $25 to $50 per incident and loss of water service.
Commercial car washes will not be affected by the restrictions, but other businesses must reduce water use by 10 percent or more.
Residents of Linthicum, Brooklyn Park, Severn, Hanover, Laurel, Jessup, Harmans, and Annapolis Junction were asked to restrict their water use on a voluntary basis.
"I am asking everyone for their cooperation in order to ensure adequate supplies of water for homes, businesses and public safety needs," Owens said yesterday in her announcement at the Jacobsville fire hall.
The county executive announced the mandatory restrictions in front of a sky-blue water tower, the water supply of which was found to be dangerously low recently, officials said.
"We are entering a very dry period now, and it is critical for us to maintain a reserve," said Anne Arundel Fire Chief Roger C. Simonds Sr., who added that adequate water pressure is critical in fighting fires.
Residents of northern Anne Arundel County receive water from Baltimore through two water lines, one located on the bed of the Patapsco River and one under Nursery Road.
The Patapsco River pipeline, a 30-year-old concrete structure, was shut off in April when engineers discovered a gaping hole. In the meantime, the Nursery Road water main has been pumping extra water to county households.
But with temperatures rising, county officials said they worried that the Nursery Road pipeline might not be able to deliver enough water to homes and businesses.
Owens said yesterday that the water restrictions most likely will be enforced until Oct. 1, or until water demand drops. Work to repair the damaged Patapsco River pipeline is expected to begin next month but might not finish before the end of the year.
"You can't just fix that pipeline in a week," said county Public Works Department administrator Richard Dixon, who added that the water main lies under 25 feet of water and could require new parts, some of which might need to be specially manufactured, to complete the repair.
Water restriction enforcement will be carried out by county police officers. Violations may be reported to the police at 410- 222-8610.
