BALTIMORE — A big change could be coming to how Baltimore manages its water system.
Baltimore may create a standalone water and wastewater department by 2028
City leaders want to create a separate department dedicated to water and wastewater services.
Right now, those services operate under the department of public works.
A standalone department would help manage the system more efficiently, improve financial oversight, and better serve the region.
"By separating the utility into a separate department, we believe that this is going to help us collaborate better regionally," says Matthew Garbark, director of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works.
"As I mentioned, we support not just Baltimore City but the entire Baltimore metropolitan region, 1.8 million customers."
The charter amendment needs voter approval. It will be put on the ballot this November, and if approved, would set plans in motion to have the new bureau up and running by the end of 2028.
