Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Issues a Precautionary Boil Water Advisory for Northern Baltimore County Residents and Businesses Impacted by 20-inch Water Main Break

Tuesday Feb 14th, 2023

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Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) Issues a Precautionary Boil Water Advisory for Northern Baltimore County Residents and Businesses Impacted by 20-inch Water Main Break

No known E. coli or other bacteria contamination has been detected; residents impacted  by Precautionary  measure should bring water to a rapid boil for 1 minute once service resumes

BALTIMORE, MD (Tuesday, February 14, 2023) - Out of an abundance of caution, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) today issued a precautionary Boil Water Advisory (BWA) impacting the Cockeysville, Hunt Valley, Sparks, and Broadmead communities in Northern Baltimore County following a 20-inch water main break Monday evening along 13816 York Road. Repairs to this broken water main remain ongoing by DPW.

A precautionary BWA is issued when there is a loss of water pressure to one or more residences. No known E. coli or other bacteria contamination has been detected and the newly-issued BWA for impacted residents is a precautionary measure in accordance with Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) regulations. The precautionary BWA is directly affecting approximately 1900 customers, and residents impacted by the water main break: north of Shawan Road and York Road. To see if you are affected by the Boil Water Advisory, use the Interactive Map to determine if you are impacted.

Residents in the affected areas currently without water should, when service returns, bring their water to a rolling boil for one minute then cool it before:

  • Drinking
  • Brushing your teeth
  • Washing fruits and vegetables
  • Preparing baby food and formula
  • Making Ice
  • Giving to pets

All stored water, drinks or ice made recently should be discarded. Boiled water can be stored in a clean container with a cover. Water does not have to be boiled before it is used for bathing as long as it is not consumed.  For additional information, please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance.

The precautionary BWA is necessary following the February 13, 2023 water main break, which caused a portion of the system to lose water pressure. When this occurs, there is an increased risk of contamination to the water distribution system. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, a boil water advisory has been issued to ensure access to clean and safe water supply.

In addition, due to this main break, DPW’s Sparks, Md., drinking water pumping facility lost pressure and its water tank capacity was depleted.

DPW water quality experts will test samples from the impacted area to ensure the water is safe for consumption. Once water safety has been confirmed, DPW will lift the BWA and will notify customers that the advisory has been lifted.

Community Water Distribution Available
City and County officials are distributing bottled water to support impacted residents at USA Lacrosse, located at 2 Loveton Cir. Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152 on Wednesday, February 15. Water distribution will be available tomorrow from 12:00 p.m. (noon) to 7:00 p.m.

Residents are encouraged to check the DPW website and social media platforms Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updates as this situation develops.

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