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The operation, maintenance and management of water and wastewater facilities can be a challenge, especially for smaller and mid-sized towns and cities and rural counties. These local governments bear the legal responsibility as the owners of water and wastewater systems that are issued permits and regulated under federal and state statutes. These include the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act and the Maryland Environment Article. Newly-elected mayors, members of councils and commissions, and appointed town managers may be surprised by the complexity and cost of operating and maintaining these vital systems. Managing requests for new hookups, evaluating large development proposals and dealing with needed capital upgrades and expansions can be daunting. As development pressures increase in areas such as the Eastern Shore and the rural western parts of Maryland, the need to ensure adequate facilities will become even more important.
Recognizing the Need to Assist Local Governments
To provide local jurisdictions with more information, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has prepared two documents that will be of use to local managers and elected officials. These are the Water Capacity Management Plan Guidance and the Wastewater Capacity Management Plan Guidance. These documents provide information as to:
- Why local governments must monitor and track water and wastewater system capacity
- Pertinent laws and regulations
- Elements of a capacity management plan
- Suggested methodology for keeping track of available capacity
At a Cabinet meeting in Frederick County held on July 10, which included a tour of the New Design Water Treatment Plant, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., announced the release of these guidance documents. He also emphasized the need for local governments to manage both their water resources and their growth.
Assisting local governments with the development of capacity management tools is part of a larger effort on the part of the Ehrlich Administration to ensure that water and wastewater systems are adequate, environmentally protective, and consistent with responsible growth.
Local Government Responsibilities
In both water and wastewater systems, a local government must be able to determine total system capacity, existing usage/demand, demand from approved but un-built subdivision plats and building permits, and remaining capacity available for allocation. The system must have a process for tracking and controlling the allocation of new connections, and a system to finance, construct and operate capital facilities in a self-supporting manner. User rate systems incorporate connection or other fees to cover the capital costs for system upgrades and expansions. The system must be tailored for specific characteristics such as water loss from leakage in the distribution system, inflow and infiltration, and other factors.
Some local governments may opt to hire an engineering firm to provide the level of management, tracking, evaluation and capital planning needed to ensure that the water and wastewater systems are properly and efficiently managed. Others may have the talent to accomplish this with local staff. Either way, the legal obligation for proper operation of the system remains with the system owner.
Water Resources Advisory Committee
There are other ongoing efforts related to the safety and adequacy of water and wastewater systems statewide. The Water Resources Advisory Committee, appointed by Governor Ehrlich and chaired by Dr. Gordon “Reds” Wolman of the Johns Hopkins University, will evaluate and make specific recommendations for action items to plan for the long-term viability of the State’s drinking water resources. The Committee recently sent an interim report to MDE. The U.S. Geological Survey, Maryland Geological Survey and MDE are also undertaking a study of water availability in the Coastal Plain of Southern Maryland. Other studies will follow as funds permit.
For a copy of the Water and Wastewater Capacity Management guidance
documents, call 410-537-3512, or click
here.
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