Water Pressure

A few weeks ago I received a letter from Russ Vincent who purchased a new home in the Anne Arundel development of Jonathan's Landing. It seems, however, that low water pressure in the new homes built there have figuratively given him a case of high blood pressure.According to Vincent, he and more than 20 other owners discovered last spring that the water pressure in the homes was so low "it is hard to do more than one thing at a time." The builder's solution was to ask them to pony up another $700 to install a water-booster system.

As the heat wave continues and reservoir levels drop, water pressure is low and tempers are frayed in South Carroll.For the third consecutive year, residents of the county's most populated area are coping with water restrictions brought on by heat, dry weather and high demand. Many attribute water shortages to the county's poor planning, which has allowed development to continue."I am sure they are not telling people buying all these expensive new houses that they might not have water," said Carolyn Fairbank of Eldersburg.

After nearly five years of pressure from Brooklyn Park residents, the county is set to begin a three-year, $8 million overhaul of 23 miles of deteriorating water lines in their neighborhood.For residents, the project will mean better water pressure, clearer water and higher water bills, as Anne Arundel County takes ownership of the water system, which Baltimore City has operated since 1929."My personal opinion is this is something that should never have taken this long to get resolved," said Woody Bowen, a longtime Brooklyn Park resident who was instrumental in persuading the county to take control of the system.

Water pressure dropped in some Baltimore neighborhoods this week as about 100 fire hydrants were illegally opened by people seeking relief from oppressive heat, city officials reported yesterday.No major problems with hydrants occurred, but the city's Department of Public Works warns that the practice could drain water supplies to hospitals and keep firefighters from quickly dousing fires.Anyone caught opening a hydrant may be charged with illegally tampering with city water, a misdemeanor that carries a $500 fine and up to six months in jail.

While South Carroll, the county's most populous area, struggles with a water shortage, neighbors to the north face the opposite problem.The residents of Diamond Hills, just outside Westminster, say they have too much water.And too much of a good thing is bad for the plumbing and bad for the checkbook."I replaced my water heater a few years ago because I thought it was leaking," said Ray Kerr, who was one of the first to move into the subdivision, off Kate Wagner Road south of the city limits, in 1994.

A couple posing as city water department employees entered a Northeast Baltimore home yesterday and stole at least $2,000, a victim said.Edward M. Hammel, of the 3200 block of Kenyon Ave., said he recognized the man as the same one who asked to check the "inside" water meter at his home about two months ago. "I told him to leave then because the meter is outside and he didn't have ID," Hammel said.About 1 p.m. yesterday, the man returned and displayed a laminated ID card with his photo and the words "water department" and asked again to check the meter, Hammel said.

Twenty people were arrested and 1,500 vehicles were stopped during "Operation Springboard" this weekend in Fells Point, police said. They said the effort served to get out word before summer begins that nuisance crimes will not be tolerated in the area.Maj. Tim Longo, commander of the Southeastern District, said the zero-tolerance initiative Wednesday night through Saturday night resulted in 12 arrests for loitering, public drinking and other minor offenses.Longo said a sobriety checkpoint in the 200 block of President St. Friday night through Saturday morning resulted in seven arrests for drunken driving and one for a previous domestic assault.

County public works officials plan to tell South Carroll residents tonight about plans for a new water tower next to Liberty High School and potential uses of a former school site on Mineral Hill Road.Both projects have sparked controversy in the past. But concern about the proposed water tower may be over now that a one-acre site adjoining Liberty High School has been selected."It is the best hydraulics option" among several proposed sites, said Gary Horst, deputy public works director."It works for us, and it works well for the Board of Education," Horst said of the proposed site.

County officials have postponed a decision on where to build a fourth water storage tower for the Freedom area.Construction of the 130-foot, million-gallon tower, estimated to cost $1 million to $2 million, is proposed for 1998.One potential site near Nickoles Drive and Mineral Hill Road in Eldersburg drew opposition from nearby residents."It just does not make sense to put it here," Bridget Leahy, a systems engineer, said of the site behind her Nickoles Drive home. "I am glad to hear they are considering alternative sites."

Preseason football games are supposed to provide teams with a chance to find and address various deficiencies. But for the Ravens, this thinking extends beyond the playing field and into the restrooms and parking lots.In response to the myriad of problems that arose nearly two weeks ago as angry fans waited for Mass Transit Administration buses to pick them up after the Ravens' first game at Memorial Stadium, some changes are in store to help make Saturday's commute less hectic.For starters, to improve the traffic flow along 33rd Street, bus-only lanes will be implemented between Loch Raven/Alameda and Memorial Stadium.

Fatal crash victim Is identified 3 Anne Arundel County police have identified the victim of a fatal crash Thursday as Douglas Barry Newgent, 43, of the 3500 block of Patuxent River Road in Davidsonville. Newgent lost control of his Honda Civic on an exit ramp from Route 3 to Route 32 in Millersville and crashed into a tree. The vehicle was torn in half, and Newgent died at the scene, police said. - Andrea F. Siegel Water restrictions now mandatory in areas 4 The voluntary water restrictions announced Thursday for 150,000 residents of Northwest Baltimore and Baltimore County have been made mandatory.

Bryan and Missy Meyers planned their vacation to Northern Virginia around a trip to Baltimore's Port Discovery - a favorite spot of their young daughters before the family moved to Reno, Nev. With a late flight Tuesday, the Meyers family arrived at 11:30 a.m. only to learn that the children's museum would close in an hour and a half. The reason: Lots of children and no water pressure make for very messy bathrooms. And after seeing the toilets brimming with discolored, soppy toilet paper, Missy Meyers conceded the point.

Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens has ordered an outdoor-watering ban through at least Thursday for the northern third of the county, pointing to an extreme loss of water pressure that she called "alarming." The around-the-clock outdoor ban affects an estimated 200,000 residents on the public water system in the county's most populated section, from Laurel and Brooklyn Park to Glen Burnie and Pasadena. This marks the second time Owens has instituted an outdoor prohibition on water use this year to combat shortages.

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."

Pipe repair spurs call for saving water Baltimore: Southwest People living in southwestern Baltimore and Baltimore County are being asked to voluntarily conserve water as the city's Department of Public Works repairs a 54-inch water main. The request for voluntary conservation - beginning yesterday and expected to last about five weeks - asks residents to take shorter showers, operate the dishwasher only when full, limit outdoor watering of lawns and gardens, avoid power-washing and repair leaks.

6 men charged with illegal harvesting, The state Natural Resources Police has charged six men with taking oysters from an area closed to oyster harvesting at the mouth of the Severn River near Tolly Point, according to a news release. On Jan. 24, the Natural Resources Police charged the following men with taking shellfish from closed waters: Eric S. Cantler Sr., 57, of Annapolis; Guy E. Spurry, 41, of Easton; John E. Hambleton, 42, of Bozman; and James B. Haddaway Jr., 42, William T. Cummings, 51, and Michael C. Larrimore, 53, all of Tilghman.

Anne Arundel: Glen Burnie Pedestrian killed on Furnace Branch A Glen Burnie man died yesterday after he was struck by a pickup truck as he walked along a road, Arundel County police said. Brian Lee Kelliher, 32, of the 7400 block of Furnace Branch Road, was walking on the shoulder near Furnace Branch Road and Country Club Drive about 2 p.m. He was struck by a 1995 Toyota pickup truck after it collided with a 2003 Dodge Neon at the intersection. Kelliher was taken to Baltimore Washington Medical Center, where he died.

A water main break forced the closing yesterday of the headquarters of the state's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, state officials said. Workers discovered the 10-inch cracked main about 7 a.m. and sent home all nonessential employees about 9:15 a.m. Almost 2,000 state employees work in the Herbert R. O'Conor Building at 201 W. Preston St., said Dave Humphrey, a spokesman for the Department of General Services. By late yesterday afternoon, workers had made two attempts to fix the 30-year-old water main with stainless steel clamp couplings.

Water pressure in Taneytown bounced up to near normal almost immediately after the mayor imposed mandatory restrictions on most outdoor uses last Thursday, officials said yesterday. The restrictions were tightened Tuesday evening by Mayor W. Robert Flickinger, who changed the penalty for violating the restrictions that ban outdoor uses such as filling pools, washing cars and watering lawns. His new order eliminates a grace period that officials feared might increase water use. His original order provided for only warnings until Monday but now allows fines after one warning.

Water pressure in Taneytown bounced up to near normal almost immediately after the mayor imposed mandatory restrictions on most outdoor uses last Thursday, officials said yesterday. The restrictions were tightened Tuesday evening by Mayor W. Robert Flickinger, who changed the penalty for violating the restrictions that ban outdoor uses such as filling pools, washing cars and watering lawns. His new order eliminates a grace period that officials feared might increase water use. His original order provided for only warnings until Monday but now allows fines after one warning.