BALTIMORE, MD (May 29, 2013) - The Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $47 million in funding today to reduce pollution and improve water quality by upgrading a sewage system and wastewater treatment plants and improving drinking water systems. The Board is composed of Governor Martin O’Malley, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot.
"Projects such as these are an important part of our effort to improve Maryland waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay," said Governor O’Malley. "These projects reduce pollution and protect the environment and public health while creating jobs for more Marylanders."
The following projects were approved yesterday:
Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant Enhanced Nutrient Removal Upgrade – Baltimore City
A $25,576,554 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Projects grant, in addition to a previous $5 million Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Projects grant and $15 million in previous Bay Restoration Fund grants, to Baltimore City will help fund the Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) upgrade at the 180 million gallons per day Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant. After the upgrades, the facility will reduce its nitrogen discharge by 67 percent, significantly reducing the amount of nutrients discharged to Back River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. Excessive amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen lead to lowered levels of oxygen needed to support aquatic life in waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay. Enhanced Nutrient Removal upgrades of the state’s major wastewater treatment plants are a critical component of Maryland’s Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan.
R.C. Willson Water Plant Compliance Phase IV project – Washington County
Grant and loan funding of $12,209,000 (a $9,209,00 loan and a $1,500,000 grant in the form of loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund Program and a $1,500,000 Water Supply Financial Assistance Program grant) to the City of Hagerstown will help fund the R.C. Willson Water Plant Compliance Phase IV project. The project entails upgrading the plant, along with ancillary improvements to the water system, for compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s State 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule.
Chesapeake Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant Enhanced Nutrient Removal Upgrade and Expansion project – Calvert County
A $7,080,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant to the Town of Chesapeake Beach will help fund the Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) Upgrade and Expansion project at the 1.18 million gallons per day Chesapeake Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project also includes expanding plant capacity to 1.5 million gallons per day. After the upgrades, the facility will reduce its nitrogen discharge by 62.5 percent and its phosphorus discharge by 85 percent, significantly reducing the amount of nutrients discharged to the Chesapeake Bay. Excessive amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen lead to lowered levels of oxygen needed to support aquatic life in waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay. Enhanced Nutrient Removal upgrades of the state’s major wastewater treatment plants are a critical component of Maryland’s Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan.
Jennings Run Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation – Allegany County
Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Projects grants totaling $1,187,042 to Allegany County will help fund the Jennings Run Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation project. The project entails the rehabilitation of the existing Jennings Run sanitary sewer system. It involves the relining or replacement of sewer pipes and manholes and other infrastructure. The project is designed to reduce inflow and infiltration of water to the system to minimize the occurrence of sewer backups and overflows. Allegany County is under a consent decree to reduce infiltration and inflow in the Jennings Run sewer system.
Annapolis Water Reclamation Facility Enhanced Nutrient Removal Upgrade project – Anne Arundel County
A $1,000,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant, in addition to a previous $13,700,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant and a previous $2,998,700 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan, to Anne Arundel County will help fund the Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) Upgrade at the 13 million gallons per day Annapolis Water Reclamation Facility. After the upgrades, the facility will reduce its nitrogen discharge by 62.5 percent and its phosphorus discharge by 85 percent, significantly reducing the amount of nutrients discharged to the Lower Western Shore and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. Excessive amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen lead to lowered levels of oxygen needed to support aquatic life in waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay. Enhanced Nutrient Removal upgrades of the state’s major wastewater treatment plants are a critical component of Maryland’s Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan.
Savage Raw Water and Energy Conservation project – Allegany County
Grant funding of $269,250 (a $167,250 grant in the form of loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund loan and a $102,000 grant from the Water Supply Financial Assistance Program) to the City of Frostburg will help fund the Savage Raw Water and Energy Conservation project. The City of Frostburg plans to conserve water and reduce energy consumption by rehabilitating the City’s raw drinking water collection system in the Savage River basin in Garrett County. The aging and deteriorating system experiences substantial leakage and uses some out-of-date equipment. The project will involve the replacement of pipes, spring houses and pumping equipment, the lining of basins and ancillary improvements to enhance system performance.
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