Tour group gets a lesson in aging city water system

(Baltimore Sun) - For years, Baltimore officials have warned that the city's centuries-old network of water pipes is crumbling. But few seem to care - until they break. Late last month, a fracture in a 77-year-old pipe during a morning rush-hour flooded downtown streets, shutting down Baltimore's business district for a day and tangling traffic for several more.On Saturday, city officials seized the opportunity to invite the public to view a set of similar pipes, learn how the aging system can be tweaked to provide several more decades of life, and tour one of Baltimore's water-filtration plants, which is normally closed for security. Continued

Photo: Montebello Filtration Plant No. 1 (Baltimore City DPW).