Regional Water Governance Hearing

Baltimore City’s water is among the best quality water in the country. In the 2024 Water Quality Report, Baltimore City’s water contaminants are below the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s standard. Baltimore’s water and sewer system was ahead of its time when it was developed and built over 140 years ago. While the water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure is aging, the quality of Baltimore’s water continues to be top notch.

Despite Baltimore’s exceptional water quality, residents express dismay about the inequities in the system, particularly around water billing. Baltimore City residents pay much more than Baltimore County residents, despite Baltimore County subsidizing the cost of the water bills. The Baltimore City Department of Public Works has made great strides in improving billing, with a focus on quality customer service to make adjustments to bills if there are any mistakes or if there is a large bill because of a leak. Several of the concerns outlined in the 2021 Water/Sewer Services Comprehensive Business Process Review have been corrected.

In 2023 the Maryland General Assembly created the Regional Water Governance Task Force, which met throughout 2023 and 2024 to study the results of the 2021 report. It was intended to seek regional cooperation and explore options for improvements to the water system. At the time the City Council was not included in the work, but it held hearings to understand the work of the Task Force. The City Council passed a resolution and presented it to the Task Force emphasizing that the City Council should be included in the work, and that any regional system should look at stormwater in addition to drinking water, focusing on both equity and affordability.

The Task Force finished its work in 2024 and created an extensive report that outlined both the improvements that the Baltimore City Department of Public Works has made and the challenges for regionalism, including debt, infrastructure needs, and more. During the 2024 General Assembly session, HB1509 created the Baltimore Regional Water Governance Model Workgroup. The Workgroup is intended to continue looking at regional water governance models, and to provide a transition plan upon selecting a model. At their first meeting on January 7th , 2026, the Chair of the Workgroup announced that the creation of a regional water authority was not going to be considered. The City Council welcomes the opportunity to receive updates from the officials involved with this Workgroup to get regular updates and reporting on the results of their meetings. The City Council would specifically like to request any information on the following:

The City Council would specifically like to request any information on the following:

(1) An outline of the recommendations from the Task Force;

(2) Updates on what the Workgroup is considering for regional cooperation;

(3) How public comment will be received by the Workgroup;

(4) How stormwater management factors into the Workgroup’s consideration;

(5) The impact of any regional model on jobs;

(6) The impact of any regional model on water billing and water bill affordability;

(7) Recommendations for any changes in the current agreements between Baltimore City and surrounding jurisdictions; and

(8) The results of an equity assessment for any model that is recommended.