Maryland Water Restrictions 2026
Published: May 15, 2026
Sources: Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), WSSC Water, Baltimore City DPW, Maryland Drought Dashboard
Maryland's water restrictions are concentrated in the densely populated Washington DC suburbs served by WSSC Water — the nation's 9th largest water utility. Montgomery and Prince George's counties entered a Level 2 Water Supply Alert in November 2025 after the Potomac River flow dropped to levels not seen since 2002. The Triadelphia and T. Howard Duckett reservoirs, WSSC's backup supply, are at 54% capacity.
Baltimore City operates a separate Stage 1 Water Conservation Advisory (voluntary) after Loch Raven and Prettyboy reservoirs dropped to 71% and 68% respectively. Below-average 2025–2026 Maryland mountain snowpack (Savage River watershed at 58% of normal) threatens summer reservoir recharge. Stage 2 mandatory restrictions would activate in Baltimore if Loch Raven drops below 65%.
HOA protection is guaranteed under Maryland Code §11B-111.3. HOAs cannot enforce lawn-appearance standards that would require homeowners to violate utility-declared water shortage conditions. WSSC Level 2 Alert qualifies as the triggering declaration for the 1.8 million customers across Montgomery and Prince George's counties.
How Maryland Manages Drought
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) issues statewide drought declarations and coordinates with regional utilities. MDE can recommend but not directly impose city-by-city restrictions — those are set by local utilities and approved by the Washington Metropolitan Water Supply and Management Group (WMAWSG) for the DC region.
WSSC Water (Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission) serves 1.8 million customers across Montgomery and Prince George's counties. WSSC's 4-level conservation framework (Watch → Alert → Warning → Emergency) is coordinated with DC Water and Fairfax Water through the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB).
Baltimore City Department of Public Works operates the Loch Raven, Prettyboy, and Liberty reservoirs serving 1.8 million Baltimore-area customers. Baltimore's Stage 1 through Stage 4 conservation framework triggers based on combined reservoir storage. The 2002 drought was the last time Baltimore declared Stage 2 mandatory.
The ICPRB coordinates releases from Jennings Randolph Reservoir (North Branch Potomac) and Little Seneca Reservoir to supplement low-flow Potomac conditions and protect downstream intakes during drought.
Maryland Conservation Framework
WSSC Level 2 Water Supply Alert (current, November 2025): 10% voluntary reduction versus prior-year baseline. Odd/even watering (odd addresses water Mon/Wed/Fri; even Tue/Thu/Sat; no Sunday irrigation). No mid-day irrigation 10 AM – 6 PM. Fines $50 first, $100 repeat.
WSSC Level 3 Water Supply Warning (if triggered): Mandatory 10% reduction. Fines escalate to $250 first, $500 repeat. Day-of-week restrictions enforced with citations rather than education-first. New sod installations prohibited.
Baltimore Stage 1 Advisory (current, October 2025): Voluntary 15% reduction requested. No mandatory day-of-week schedule. Recommended no mid-day irrigation 9 AM – 5 PM. No fines at Stage 1 — education-first response.
Baltimore Stage 2 Mandatory (if triggered by Loch Raven <65%): 2 days/week odd/even, $100 first-offense fines, new sod installations restricted.
Maryland Regional Breakdown
DC Suburbs (WSSC Service Area)
Montgomery County (Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg) and Prince George's County (Hyattsville, College Park, Bowie) — 1.8 million residents. Level 2 Alert active November 2025. Potomac at Little Falls –22%; Duckett Reservoir 54%.
Baltimore Metro
Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County — 1.8 million residents. Stage 1 Advisory voluntary since October 2025. Loch Raven 71%, Prettyboy 68%. Stage 2 trigger at Loch Raven 65%.
Western Maryland (Cumberland, Frostburg)
Allegany and Garrett counties. Savage River watershed snowpack 58% of normal. Voluntary conservation; no mandatory restrictions as of April 2026 but D2 Severe Drought conditions.
Eastern Shore (Salisbury, Ocean City)
Wicomico, Worcester, and Dorchester counties. Groundwater-dependent communities with separate supply systems from the western shore. No mandatory restrictions; rainfall closer to normal on the Eastern Shore than on the Piedmont.
Maryland Lawn Grass and the 2026 Drought
Maryland sits in the transition zone between cool-season and warm-season grass climates. Tall fescue is the dominant lawn grass statewide — it handles 2 days/week watering even under Stage 2 when mowed high (3.5–4 inches). Kentucky Bluegrass is common in older Montgomery County subdivisions and handles the schedule with deeper watering.
Zoysia is an increasingly popular warm-season option in Maryland — it tolerates drought better than tall fescue, goes golden-dormant October through April, and saves 30% water through the summer restriction season. Many new Montgomery County subdivisions use Zoysia as the default turf.
Mid-Atlantic native landscaping offers dramatic water savings: Little Bluestem, Switchgrass, Black-Eyed Susan, Echinacea, and Inkberry Holly all thrive on rainfall alone after establishment. WSSC offers $50 rebates for rain-barrel purchases and smart-controller installations.
Summer dormancy is normal for tall fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass under Stage 2. Grass turns golden-brown in July–August and greens up in September. Do not fight dormancy — deep-water once every 10–14 days during the worst summer heat to keep crowns alive.
Drought-Survival Watering by Grass Type
| Grass | Survival Watering | Mowing Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall Fescue | 1 in/week deep on 2 days | 3.5–4 inches | Dominant MD lawn grass; handles Stage 2 well |
| Kentucky Bluegrass | 1 in/week deep on 2 days | 3–3.5 inches | Common in older MoCo subdivisions; accepts dormancy |
| Zoysia | 0.5 in every 10 days | 1.5–2 inches | Best warm-season option; 30% less water than fescue |
| Fine Fescue | 0.5 in/week on 2 days | 3 inches | Shade-tolerant; lowest water of cool-season options |
| Bermuda | 0.5 in every 7 days | 1.5 inches | Works in southern MD only; patchy elsewhere |
HOA Protection During Drought
Maryland Code §11B-111.3 prohibits HOAs from enforcing lawn appearance standards that would require homeowners to violate utility-declared water shortage conditions affecting the county. WSSC Level 2 Alert qualifies as the triggering declaration for Montgomery and Prince George's counties. Baltimore's Stage 1 Advisory is voluntary but the legal protection strengthens if Stage 2 is declared.
Maryland HOAs cannot require water-intensive turf, cannot prohibit native-plant landscaping, and cannot fine for brown lawns during active water-shortage conditions. The statute explicitly voids any CC&R provision conflicting with utility conservation orders.
If your HOA sends a violation letter during active WSSC Level 2 or Baltimore Stage 2, respond in writing citing MD Code §11B-111.3 and attach a copy of your utility's current declaration. File a complaint with the Maryland Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation if the HOA persists.
Maryland Cities — Local Water Restriction Guides
Key Contacts & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maryland in a drought in 2026?
Yes. Montgomery and Prince George's counties under WSSC Level 2 Water Supply Alert since November 2025. Baltimore under Stage 1 Advisory since October 2025. Potomac River at Little Falls runs 22% below the 10-year April average; WSSC's Duckett Reservoir at 54% capacity. Western Maryland snowpack at 58% of normal.
What is WSSC Level 2 Water Supply Alert?
WSSC Level 2 is the second of four conservation stages. Level 2 requests 10% voluntary reduction versus prior-year baseline; it implements mandatory odd/even watering (odd addresses water Mon/Wed/Fri, even Tue/Thu/Sat; no Sunday irrigation) and bans mid-day irrigation 10 AM – 6 PM. Fines are $50 first offense, $100 repeat. Level 3 Warning would trigger larger mandatory reductions and higher fines.
Can my Maryland HOA fine me for a brown lawn?
No. Maryland Code §11B-111.3 prohibits HOAs from enforcing lawn appearance standards that would require homeowners to violate utility-declared water shortage conditions. WSSC Level 2 Alert qualifies as the triggering declaration for Montgomery and Prince George's counties. Baltimore's Stage 1 is voluntary but the protection strengthens at Stage 2.
Should I replace my Maryland tall fescue lawn?
Tall fescue handles Maryland's transition-zone climate well and should survive Stage 2 with deep watering on 2 days/week. If you want to reduce water, Zoysia is the best warm-season upgrade — 30% less water than tall fescue and similar appearance when green. Native plantings (Little Bluestem, Switchgrass) replace turf entirely for the most dramatic savings.
What rebates are available in Maryland?
WSSC offers $50 rain barrel distribution, $50 smart controller rebates, and free residential leak audits. Baltimore DPW offers $50 smart controller rebates and free leak audits. The Chesapeake Bay Trust offers landscape conversion grants for stormwater-management-certified designs. All programs require pre-approval.