Water shortages are something you might normally associate with the desert southwest, not rainy Maryland, but population growth and poorly planned development have resulted in a growing concern about the future of the state’s fresh water supplies.

In fast growing Southern Maryland, groundwater levels are dropping by an average of 1 to 2 feet per year. A recent study by the Maryland Geological Survey projected that the aquifer serving parts of Charles County could be in danger of depletion in 25 years unless deeper wells are drilled.

The Washington, D.C. suburbs draw heavily from the Potomac River. Growing demands put on the river have resulted in conflicts between Maryland and Virginia that have gone as far as the Supreme Court.

State law requires counties and municipalities to ensure adequate water supplies for any new development, but many localities have failed to keep their plans up to date. At the same time, rapid development has resulted in some instances of developments going up without enough water to supply them.

In Middletown, in Frederick County, state reulators halted all construction in 2004 after town officials had ignored repeated warnings that growth was using up the available water supply. Since then, Middletown has found a new source of water, but only after drilling 24 dry holes.

Other localities and developers are requesting water rights on state parks or agricultural lands.

With Maryland’s population expected to grow by another million over the next 25 years, water problems will only become more severe.

At the end of a recent meeting of the state’s water advisory panel, the chairman commented: “Quietly pray for drought–and only half mean it.”