Baltimore City begins tapping Susquehanna River for water. Here's what residents should know.

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Caroline Foreback joined WJZ in November 2022, and she is thrilled to be reporting in her home state of Maryland for the station she grew up watching.

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Updated on: October 5, 2026 / 6:30 PM EDT / CBS Baltimore

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Baltimore City has started tapping the Susquehanna River to supplement its water supply as drought conditions continue to drain the region's reservoirs.

While officials say the water is safe to drink, residents could notice slight changes in the taste, smell or color of their water.

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works activated its Deer Creek Pump Station in northern Harford County to begin withdrawing water from the Susquehanna River. The water will supplement the City's Prettyboy and Loch Raven reservoirs, which have reached low levels amid the ongoing drought.