Arundel eases ban on water use

Anne Arundel County officials yesterday lifted a round-the-clock ban on outdoor water usage for an estimated 200,000 residents, although mandatory restrictions remain in effect for communities from Laurel to Linthicum.

The ban on outdoor use of public water went into effect Monday for 13 ZIP codes across the county's northern tier after a 42-inch water main broke last weekend in Glen Burnie, spewing at least 3 million gallons. That pipe was replaced Tuesday, and water pressure rose enough to prompt county officials to relax the restrictions.

County Executive Janet S. Owens thanked affected residents and major county employers, including Northrop Grumman Corp. and Arundel Mills mall, for conserving water during this week's heat wave.

For residents in 10 of the 13 ZIP codes in Anne Arundel's northwestern corner, however, outdoor usage of public water is allowed only during limited hours Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Voluntary restrictions are also in place for most of the Marley Neck Peninsula. Those measures will remain in effect in place until Oct. 1.

These restrictions were implemented May 3 to accommodate repairs to a broken water main in Baltimore County that provided 5 million gallons of water a day to Anne Arundel. The repairs might not be complete until next summer.