Council raises alarm over rising unaccounted-for water, seeks operator briefing

Baltimore Village councilors discussed growing water loss, repair priorities and financing during their regular meeting, and asked staff to bring the village water operator to the next service meeting to answer detailed questions.

Council members said unaccounted-for water and repair backlogs have grown over several years, and staff reported they are pursuing grants and low-interest loans while negotiating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on infiltration and inflow (I&I) compliance. Village Administrator Brian Bibler said the village is preparing plans and has submitted a most recent recommendation to the EPA as part of an ongoing negotiation process.

Why it matters: A rising gap between water produced and billed can signal leaks, meter failure or other system loss that can drive up operational costs and require major capital investments. Councilors pressed for clearer data and a direct briefing from the…