Boil Water Advisory Issued for Southwestern Baltimore County, including Arbutus, Halethorpe and Lansdowne Residents

UPDATE: Fire Station 5 has distributed all bottled water. Those in need of water in southwest Baltimore County are advised to visit the Lansdowne Branch of Baltimore County Public Library until 8 p.m.

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Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) officials yesterday shared that E. coli bacteria has been detected in samples of the water supply in the Sandtown-Winchester and Harlem Park neighborhoods of West Baltimore. While this bacteria was not detected in Baltimore County, as a precaution a boil water advisory has been extended across areas of Southwestern Baltimore County, including Arbutus, Halethorpe and Lansdowne.

Residents living in the covered areas are advised to use bottled or boiled water for drinking, preparing and cooking food and brushing teeth. Tap water – including filtered water from a refrigerator – should be brought to a full, rolling boil for at least one minute and cooled before using. When showering, any consumption of water should be avoided, and parents/guardians are advised to give small children sponge baths to avoid swallowing water. Full CDC boil water advisory details can be found HERE.

Residents can use the city’s interactive map to determine if they are within the advisory area.

“The health of Baltimore County residents is a top priority, and we want to be sure that everyone in the advisory area is taking all of the necessary precautions,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “While Baltimore County does not have operational control of the water system, we are making some of the County's certified water testers available to assist the city's efforts in quickly resolving this issue.”

The city’s Department of Public Works is now distributing gallon jugs of water (three per person) at Baltimore County Public Library’s Lansdowne Branch.

Baltimore County will distribute water today, September 6, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fire Station 5, 4501 Washington Blvd., Halethorpe, 21227.

Baltimore County Public Schools provides bottled water to students and staff at schools in the area, and meals for those students will be prepared in facilities that are not covered by the boil water advisory.

Baltimore County will share additional information as it is received.