Anne Arundel County officials, saying that too many residents in the northern and western parts of the county are ignoring water restrictions despite a severe shortage, said they plan to crack down on violators if there isn't more compliance.
In a news conference yesterday in Annapolis, County Executive Janet S. Owens said many residents are not heeding those restrictions and implored them to take measures seriously.
Ronald E. Bowen, the director of the county's Public Works Department, agreed: "We don't believe our customers are complying with the weather restrictions as well as we need them to do."
County officials announced yesterday that they had temporarily banned all outdoor water usage along the far western and northern tiers of the county, a further tightening of restrictions there in the face of a recent stretch of dry weather and a water-main break at the Maryland House of Correction in Jessup.
Police Chief P. Thomas Shanahan said his officers would issue warnings for those who violate the outdoor ban, then hand down fines starting at $125 a violation.
Shanahan and Bowen threatened that residents who don't respond to warnings and fines will have their water service shut off.
Residents from Maryland City to Brooklyn Park have been under mandatory water restrictions since May 3, put in place to compensate for a broken water main in Baltimore County that provided significant service to that area.
"We critically need the help of our citizens now," Owens said.
Mandatory water restrictions are in place for the following ZIP codes: 20724, 20701, 20794, 21076, 21090, 21077, 21225, 21240, 21061 and 21144. Voluntary water restrictions are in place for the 21226, 21060 and 21122 ZIP codes.
Until yesterday, residents in the mandatory restriction areas could use water outdoors from midnight to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, but those restrictions were temporarily suspended yesterday.
Fire Chief Ronald D. Blackwell said there is an adequate water supply for his department to fight fires. But because of the shortages in the western and northern areas, he said, it is important for residents to not delay notifying firefighters when they see a fire.
The ban on outdoor water use could last a week, said officials, who hope that renewed conservation efforts will restore water pressure to normal levels and enable them to allow residents to follow the less-restrictive rules on watering lawns, cars and pools.
