Main repairs cause water restrictions for Howard Co.

“As soon as the pipe is in service, we will lift [the restrictions],” said Jim Irvin, director for Howard?s Department of Public Works.

Starting May 18, Howard residents will be limited in the times they can water their lawns or fill their pools.

Restrictions also were in place last summer for repairs to the 54-inch water main in Baltimore County. The main, which was built in the late 1960s or early 1970s and provides a significant amount of drinking water to Howard, was eroding and breaking, Irvin said.

Officials hoped the repairs would be done in time to avoid restrictions, but latest estimates for completion are early June, Irvin said. The main has been closed for about18 months.

Memorial Day weekend is a peak time of water use for Howard, and residents typically begin filling their pools at that time, he said.

The limits ensure appropriate water supply for fighting fires, officials said.

Anne Arundel also faced restrictions last summer, but officials haven?t determined whether there should be restrictions this year, said David Abrams, spokesman for the Anne Arundel public works department.

“If there are restrictions, they probably will be less restrictive than last year,” Abrams said.

Howard?s ban last year ran from June to September, and officials had few problems with compliance.

No residents were fined, but fewer than a dozen commercial contractors received $500 fines for filling pools or water tanks, officials said.

WATER-USE LIMITS

Water-use restrictions are in effect all day on holidays and weekends from 6 p.m. Fridays until midnight Sundays.

Residents and businesses may not:

» Water lawns

» Wash paved surfaces, such as decks and vehicles

» Use sprinklers or water for waterfalls and reflective pools

» Use power washers

» Fill or top off swimming pools

Residents and businesses may:

» Water plants with buckets

» Have car washed at a commercial car wash

Source: Howard County government

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