Baltimore Schools Reopen After Urgent Water Main Repairs
UPDATE: Three schools in Baltimore have reopened today, December 12, 2025, after a critical two-day closure caused by a severe water main break and plumbing issues. The schools affected were the Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School, Youth Opportunity, and Augusta Fells Savage Institute of Visual Arts. The decision to reopen follows urgent repair efforts by the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW).
The closures began on Wednesday after a water main break led to low water pressure in the area. DPW crews have been working tirelessly along West Lafayette Avenue to resolve these issues, with water gushing onto the street as repairs continued. A spokesperson from Baltimore City Public Schools confirmed, “The city had the water turned off yesterday for a construction repair. It was back on briefly this morning, but then the city had a water main break.”
Parents and staff faced significant disruptions during this period. Walter Waters, a local resident, expressed his concerns, stating, “I’ll just get some bottles down the street or get some from the store, but I just hope the schools get their water back. That’s more important than me at the end of the day.”
The DPW indicated that repairs were underway to address two main issues: an internal plumbing problem within the school and the external water main break. They stated, “Once the 10-inch valve is reopened, pressure is expected to normalize at the school, even with the leak repair work still underway.”
Compounding the situation, the Harlem Park Recreation Center also closed due to the water issues, impacting community resources. Local resident Somaree Taru noted that the water issues on her block have persisted for over a year, with past leaks causing icy patches on the street. She remarked, “Last year around this time, we were experiencing the same thing… I ended up getting a back charge for like $2,000 on my water bill.”
As of now, most of the main repairs have been completed, but officials have not provided a specific timeline for when all services will return to normal. The situation remains fluid, and residents, particularly parents and students, are left anxious about future water reliability.
Authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely, with further updates expected as crews work to ensure full restoration of services. For now, families can breathe a sigh of relief as schools resume operations.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates as Baltimore officials address these urgent water issues.
