The city had sought $700 million for the work in the federal stimulus package but has received only $12 million. On Wednesday, the Public Works Department will ask the Board of Estimates to increase city water bills by 9 percent, in part to pay for some of the needed pipe repairs. The increase, which officials say would cost the average city household an additional $74.52 a year, would follow increases of 4 percent last year and 9 percent in 2007. The city will also seek increases from customers in Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Carroll and Howard counties.
Water lapped at curbs downtown early Tuesday while workers gathered outside office buildings to learn whether they would be allowed to enter. Officials urged people with nonessential business to avoid coming downtown if possible.
About 1,500 BGE customers lost power about 7:40 a.m., but their power had been restored by 8:55 a.m., spokesman Robert Gould said. At Constellation Energy Group headquarters on Pratt Street, low water pressure led managers to tell nonessential employees not to come in, Gould said. Those who had already arrived at work were relocated as necessary.
By 10 a.m., Dixon had ordered all city office buildings closed. Several, including City Hall and the buildings that contain the transportation, housing and fire departments, already had shut down. The U.S. Customs House and U.S. District Court also closed.
Baltimore City Community College remained open, as did Mercy Medical Center, which experienced some low water pressure but was otherwise not affected, according to a spokesman. It was business as usual on The Block, where clubs such as Larry Flynt's Hustler Club stayed open. Retail stores at The Gallery on Pratt Street kept their lights on, but many businesses that required water, such as restaurants, went dark.
The William Donald Schaefer building, which closed Tuesday, was to reopen as usual Wednesday. About 1,100 people work at 14 state agencies housed in the building at 6 St. Paul St.
The flooding postponed a City Council hearing on a controversial proposal to assess large fines on owners of unleashed dogs. More than 100 people had been expected to testify.
"It's a mess," Councilman William H. Cole IV said. "They're not telling people to wait. They're sending people home."
Kocher, the public works spokesman, had sought attention for the aging infrastructure hours before the water main break became the news of the day.
"Unless there is a drought, a major water main break or a rate increase ... most people don't give a thought to their tap water," he wrote in his e-mail to reporters.
"Baltimore natives, transplants and visitors certainly comment on the good quality, but how many people really know and understand what goes into the process of obtaining, purifying and distributing our drinking water?" he wrote.
Baltimore Sun reporters Liz F. Kay, Melissa Harris and Tricia Bishop contributed to this article.
