Drinking-water reservoirs are back at half-capacity

Autumn rain gives boost

restrictions still in place

Baltimore's drinking-water reservoirs are half-full again. Regular rains since early last month have restored them to 51 percent of their combined capacity, up from a low of 41 percent Oct. 7, city officials said yesterday.

Water customers in the city and surrounding suburbs remain under mandatory water restrictions, however, and the city's public works chief, George Winfield, urged them to continue conservation efforts.

"We are very upbeat about the autumn rainfall," he said. But the reservoirs are still well below the 61 percent capacity that triggered conservation efforts in January. Normally, the reservoirs are at 79 percent of their capacity at this time of year.