UPDATES: Water Boil Advisory Questions & Resources
The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) has issued a Required Boil Water Advisory (BWA) for residents, businesses, and other facilities in portions of West Baltimore, and a precautionary BWA for residents beyond that immediate service area, advising that drinking water is boiled before consumption.
To determine if you are inside the water boil advisory boundaries, please check this interactive map.
LATEST
The Precautionary Boil Water Advisory has been lifted for the following boundaries:
- The area south and southwest of Route 40, including the original Precautionary area in Baltimore County.
There still remains a required boil water advisory in effect for the following boundaries:
- North and South Riggs Avenue to West Franklin Street and
- East and West Carey Street to Pulaski Avenue both areas of West Baltimore
Understanding the inconvenience this has caused residents, Mayor Scott has decided to extend a 25 percent discount on water bills for the entire city.
This decision was made because of the increased water usage required to flush the system and for those who may have been unable to utilize water services over the last few days.
There were several rounds of water quality tests performed by DPW in the areas covered by the Precautionary Boil Water Advisory and all results confirmed that the water is safe to consume.
It should be noted that the “Precautionary” area for which the advisory is being lifted did not have any positive bacteria results but was necessary to ensure public health protection.
Baltimore City will continue to keep up the three water distribution centers until further notice.
Frequently Asked Questions (updated 9/7/22)
Where can I get water?
Daily, from 9am-8pm, DPW is distributing water at three locations:
- 1401 W. Lafayette Ave., Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School
- 3301 Waterview Ave., Middle Branch Park
- 500 3rd Ave., Landsdowne Library
We’ve heard the concerns of our residents around improving accessibility and are urging older adults and homebound residents to call 3-1-1 to schedule delivery of water.
Resource: DPW Water Press Conference 9/7/2022 afternoon
If the advisory has been lifted, what do I need to do?
Residents should take the following steps after the lifting of a boil water advisory:
• Run all cold water taps for fifteen (15) minutes.
• If you have a single-lever faucet, set it to run cold water.
• Begin with the lowest faucet in your home or business and then open the other faucets one at a time, moving from your lowest floor to your highest.
• After fifteen (15) minutes, turn off your faucets in reverse order, from highest to lowest.
• You should also flush your refrigerator's water lines.
• All ice made since the boil water advisory was put in place should be discarded, as well as the next three batches.
• Ice maker containers should be wiped clean with a solution of two tablespoons bleach to one gallon of water.
• Apartment buildings and multi-story buildings should notify all residents, occupants and users of this procedure and flush starting the closest tap to the water connection moving outward.
How did this happen?
Right now, the City is working with a theory (this can change) that this happened when a pumping station was taken offline on August 26th. Pumping stations move water downstream through the water system. Chlorine moves down through the system through the water to clean it. If the water has low-chlorination, bacteria can breed.
Last Friday – September 2nd – we took samples from 19 locations as identified on the initial distribution map. Results for one location in the Sandtown and Harlem Park communities – Fire Engine 8 at 1503 W. Lafayette Ave. – came back positive on Saturday, September 3rd. We immediately notified the Maryland Department of Environment and conducted a second confirmation test and including the police station on 1034 N.
(Pardon our rudimentary/imperfect explanation, we are not science folks here in the Comptroller's office.) Think of a water pumping station like a pot of soup. If you don't stir it, the ingredients sink to the bottom. If you pour out the pot after not stirring, broth will come out first, then the ingredients - meat, grains and vegetables. After you pour, you spoon the ingredients at the bottom into the bowls. In this metaphor, the chlorine = meat, grains and vegetables and the broth is the water. Chlorine gets added to clean the water when it comes to the pumping station and, if needed, when it leaves the pumping station. Typically, you stir your part to mix the ingredients, and you pump the water to distribute the chlorine. Here's some helpful reading.
This is a working theory. Information is changing as DPW investigates. Information will likely change in the next few days.
Can I shower if I am under a water-boil notice?
Generally, yes. So long as you are not drinking/ingesting the water. For babies, consider boiling water before bathing.
How long should I boil water?
Boil all water for at least 1 minute. Bring to a cool. Do this for drinking, brushing teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, preparing baby food and formula, making ice, giving water to pets, washing dishes, and preparing food. Read this CDC guidance for further details.
What is a Boil Water Advisory?
A boil water advisory is a health announcement that the public should boil tap water before drinking it. Water is likely unsafe to drink without taking extra precaution. Follow CDC guidance for the duration of the advisory.
I think I was exposed. What should I do?
ADULTS: Monitor any symptoms. Call your health care provider if you are: Unable to keep liquids down for 24 hours, have vomiting/diarrhea for more than 2 days, vomiting blood, suffering from dehydration, have blood in your stool, experiencing severe stomach pain, and/or have a fever above 104 F.
INFANTS/CHILDREN: Monitor your symptoms. Call your child's health care provider right away if your child: has a fever of 102 F or higher, seems tired or very irritable, is in a lot of discomfort or pain, has bloody diarrhea, or seems dehydrated..
How long will the Boil Water Advisory be in effect?
There is not a definitive timeline yet, but DPW is collaborating with the Maryland Department of the Environment and the EPA to follow guidelines closely prior to making changes, modifications, or notifications. The police station was one of three locations that first reported positive results last week. The other two sites, one at the Baltimore City Engine Company 8 on West Lafayette Ave. and another at the 900 block of North Carey St., have reported negative results in subsequent testing, indicating improvement
In the impacted zones, we have taken samples every 8 hours at each locations and are sharing results as they come.
- DPW is continuing to investigate the cause of the contamination by:
- Surveying and sampling other locations
- Identifying construction projects in the area
- Performing leak test
- Performing valve assessments
- Checking chlorine level
What is E. Coli bacteria?
E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Human pathogens in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
Where can I donate supplies?
If you would like to make any donations of drinking water or hand sanitizer, please deliver it to Wylie Funeral Home at 701 N. Mount St.
Where can I get more information?
Social media is the quickest way to learn any new information.
Twitter: twitter.com/@BaltimoreDPW and twitter.com/@BMore_Healthy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BaltimoreCityDepartmentofPublicWorks
Call: 311
Other Helpful Reading:
DPW - Boil Water Advisory Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Press Conference 9/7/2022: Updates on Water Contamination
Mayor Press Release 9/6/2022: City of Baltimore Provides Updates on Boil Water Advisory
DPW Press Release 9/5/2022: DPW issues Required Boil Water Advisory for Parts of West Baltimore
Baltimore Sun - Boil water advisory: Where to get water in West Baltimore
The Office of the Comptroller will be sharing information as quickly as it receives it. We continue to share email updates every 24 hours.
