Baltimore's water managers shut down yesterday the Susquehanna River pumps that have supplemented the city's drought-depleted reservoirs for the past 10 months.

The decision came after Loch Raven Reservoir exceeded 94 percent of capacity - above the 90 percent norm for November.

The Susquehanna was tapped in January when Baltimore's dwindling reservoirs hit 61 percent of capacity.

Residents have since consumed 30.1 billion gallons of river water - a volume equal to 1 1/2 times all the water in Loch Raven when it is full.

It was the largest draw on the Susquehanna in the city's history. It cost $205,000 a month to run all three pumps.

Mandatory conservation rules will remain in effect until the city's other two reservoirs recover further. Prettyboy Reservoir stood yesterday at 27 percent of capacity, Liberty at 39 percent. The combined system is 51 percent full, well below the November norm of 79 percent.