Drought conditions show slow improvement in central Maryland despite heavy rainfall
Drought conditions have been present in portions of central Maryland for nearly 300 days heading into the summer.
The extended period of dry weather comes with a steep cost: Water.
Monitoring water levels in Maryland
Liberty Reservoir reached a 20-year low in late spring, prompting voluntary water restrictions. State and local officials are closely monitoring the drought's impact on both surface and underground water levels.
"There is a cause for concern anytime there is a drought," said Evan Carrozza with Baltimore County's Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability.
"We would consider it more of a concern at this point, not a crisis in any way," he added. "Just because we had a lot of precipitation in May, there is about a four- to six-month lag period for groundwater recharge."
Drought conditions in Maryland as of June 19, 2025. Maryland has seen persistent drought conditions leading into the summer.
U.S. Drought Monitor
Rain brings some drought relief
With the change of seasons, heavier rains have returned to Maryland, but this is just a drop in the bucket of drought relief.
According to Carrozza, the area gets the least amount of groundwater recharge during the summer months.
"That's because you lost a lot of evaporation, you have storm water runoff, and then you have vegetative uptake," Carrozza said. "So, plants and trees are taking a lot of that precipitation. You don't get as much recharge in the summer months."
It takes a while for a drought to develop, and it can take even longer for conditions to improve.
To declare a drought officially over and to get groundwater levels back to normal, Maryland needs to see frequent rainfall throughout the summer. People have an impact, too.
Conserving water during drought conditions
During a drought, residents are urged to be water savvy around their homes and in their gardens.
Be conservative with the amount of water you use. Focus on deep, infrequent watering. Consider mulch to retain whatever moisture you do have in your garden's soil.
You can also reduce water usage by incorporating more drought-tolerant plants in your yard.
Inside your home, using a dishwasher to clean dishes can help limit water waste. It may seem small, but turning the water off while brushing your teeth can also reduce your water use over time.
Small everyday changes can make a large difference over time.
A small number of residents in north-central Baltimore County have reported having issues getting water from wells. The drought conditions could be contributing to these isolated issues.
Collecting rainwater around your home will reduce the amount of well and reservoir water you use, while also reducing your water bill.
Consider a rainwater storage system, like a rain barrel.
Marylanders and Mother Nature will need to work together to improve drought conditions and bring water levels back to normal.
Find more information about Baltimore County's well water HERE.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Firefighters battling 60-acre brush fire near Banning
Riverside County firefighters are battling a quickly-growing brush fire burning in the hills near Banning. It was first reported at around 3 p.m. in the area of the Wolfskill Truck Trail, located near old Banning and Idyllwild Road, according to Riverside County Fire Department crews. They arrived at the scene to find the fire burning at a moderate rate of spread through vegetation. At the time of arrival, they said the blaze had already burned around 20 acres. By 4 p.m. they said the fire was over 60 acres. Multiple water-dropping aircraft were dispatched to assist with the battle. The cause of the fire is unknown. No injuries have reported and no structures are threatened by the blaze. This is a developing story. Check back for details.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Severe storms, heavy rainfall possible in Southeast Michigan on Monday
Showers and thunderstorms are likely Monday afternoon and evening in portions of Southeast Michigan. Isolated severe storms are possible, as well as isolated instances of flooding due to heavy rain. The CBS News Detroit weather team has declared Monday a NEXT Weather Alert Day. NEXT Weather/CBS Detroit Washtenaw, Wayne, Monroe and Lenawee counties are under a marginal (1/5) risk for severe weather. Conditions look to favor a relatively brief lifespan of individual storm cells, but plenty of opportunity for additional cells to trigger from storm outflow. Stronger cells will be capable of torrential downpours with a localized damaging wind threat. NEXT Weather/CBS Detroit Nearly all of Southeast Michigan is at risk of excessive rainfall. Rainfall rates in excess of one inch per hour will be possible, which may produce localized instances of flooding, especially if storms stall over a particular location. NEXT Weather/CBS Detroit The main threat window for any severe weather and heavy rain will be between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. NEXT Weather/CBS Detroit There is a possibility of additional rain overnight as a cold front moves through the area.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Evacuation orders issued as fire breaks out near homes in Riverside
Evacuation orders were issued as firefighters battled a blaze burning close to homes in Riverside on Sunday. The Mandalay Fire was first reported at around 2 p.m. in brush behind a neighborhood located at Tyler Street and Mandalay Court, according to the Riverside Fire Department. Firefighters said that five mutual aid engine companies and Cal Fire were assisting with the battle. At least one water-dropping aircraft was assisting from above. "The city is being impacted by heavy drift smoke," said a post from the department on Facebook. As the fire continued to grow, crews issued evacuation orders for zones RIV-0309 and RIV-0310. A map of evacuation orders can be viewed here. This is a developing story. Check back for details.
