E. coli scare a reminder of Baltimore’s pioneering history in safe civic water systems

Once, Baltimore drinking water was a constant danger. Poor sanitation left the water dirty and often unfit to drink. In the early 20th century, “summer diarrhea,” a seasonal rise of gastrointestinal illness caused by microorganisms, was a leading cause of death among infants and children. Such dangers have become a distant memory in Baltimore, at least until city officials detected E. coli in the tap water. After a weeklong scare, the city announced Friday the water was again safe to drink, but the issue renewed attention to Baltimore’s famous, yet aging, municipal water system, long a source of civic pride and stability.