Service restored after water main break in northern Baltimore County
Mays Chapel, Sparks residents lose water service
A water main break in northern Baltimore County had a major impact on surrounding communities.
The Sparks and Mays Chapel neighborhoods lost water service Monday. Baltimore Department of Public Works officials said service was fully restored by 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Department of Public Works crews had to refill the Mays Chapel water tower, which lost a lot of water after a 20-inch water main broke on York Road in Hunt Valley.
By Tuesday, many residents still did not have water.
Veronia Shultz started noticing problems Monday afternoon and filled her bathtub so she and her family would have extra water.
"There's pretty much no pressure, so (we're) not able to use any of the functions that we normally have," Shultz said. "I'm really more concerned for people that have small children and somebody else that really needs water."
Residents like Lauren Ingalls and her 7-week-old son, George, also lost water service.
"Last night, when we were trying to make bottles, the water started getting slower. But this morning is when we realized we can't shower, so we headed over to the in-laws," Ingalls said.
DPW crews spent much of Tuesday refilling the Mays Chapel water tower by pumping water from Towson. Once it was filled, they said, it would take additional time for the Sparks tower to fill and for service to return to normal.
Luba Chornodolsky and her husband said they lost water pressure Monday afternoon, before it worsened.
"The water trickled from the faucet," Chornodolsky said. "We paid the water bill, so we should have water."
They're trying to stay positive, even making jokes about their prized house plant.
"Without water, as you see, we have a plant that is starting to wilt, and I'm in the process of taking it to a friend in Pennsylvania. I'm giving him foster care of this plant while the water is not available here in Timonium," said Andrij Chornodolsky.
DPW said they hoped to begin recharging the York Road water main by 6 p.m. Tuesday. Once water began entering the main, it took a few hours to reach full pressure and serve all customers, DPW said.
"It's just very inconvenient, and I know they're doing the best they can, but I didn't realize how much my life depended on running water," said Kitty Turnbaugh, a resident.
Residents were reminded to limit water use and to let lines flush out for several minutes once service was restored, since the water could be discolored.
The break damaged York Road significantly. Restoration of the road surface will begin Wednesday. It is expected to take several days.