BALTIMORE, MD (July 24, 2013) - The Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $65 million in funding today to upgrade sewage treatment plants, improve drinking water systems and prevent sewage overflows. 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, and provide quality drinking water to our citizens,” 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 today:
Marlay-Taylor Water Reclamation Facility Enhanced Nutrient Removal Upgrade project– St. Mary’s County
Funding of $35,147,000 (an $8,296,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant and a $26,851,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan), in addition to a previous $1,600,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant, to the St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission will help fund the planning, design and construction of Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) facilities at the 6 million gallons per day Marlay-Taylor 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 Pine Hill Run and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. Excessive amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus 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.
Chesapeake Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant Enhanced Nutrient Removal Upgrade and Expansion project – Calvert County
Funding of $7,692,000 (a $3,950,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan to the Town of Chesapeake Beach, a $1,892,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan to Calvert County and a $1,850,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan to the Town of North Beach), in addition to a previous $7,080,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant, will help fund the planning, design and construction of Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) facilities at the 1.32 million gallons per day Chesapeake Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project will also include expanding the 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 and phosphorus 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.
Salisbury Wastewater Treatment Plant Biological Nutrient Removal and Enhanced Nutrient Removal project – Wicomico County
Grant funding of $1,039,000 (a $665,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant and a $374,000 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Projects – Biological Nutrient Removal grant) to the City of Salisbury will help fund the design of Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) and Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) facilities at the 8.5 million gallons per day Salisbury Wastewater Treatment Plant. This project is part of a Corrective Action Plan to meet permitted effluent limits and achieve ENR levels of treatment. After the upgrades, along with the solids processing and drain pumping station upgrade, the facility will reduce its nitrogen discharge by 83.3 percent and its phosphorus discharge by 85 percent, significantly reducing the amount of nutrients discharged to the Wicomico River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. Excessive amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus 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.
Fruitland Wastewater Treatment Plant Enhanced Nutrient Removal Upgrade – Wicomico County
A $200,000 Bay Restoration Fund Grant to the City of Fruitland will help fund the design of Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) facilities at the existing 0.8 million gallons per day Fruitland Wastewater Treatment Plant. Upon completion of the ENR improvements, the plant will reduce its nitrogen discharge by 62.5 percent and its phosphorus discharge by 85 percent, significantly reducing the amount of nutrients to the Wicomico River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. Excessive amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus 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.
Maryland Avenue Sanitary Sewer Improvements project – Baltimore County
A $6,558,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan to Baltimore County, in addition to previously approved funding totaling $6,777,000 (a $5,277,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan and a $1,500,000 grant in the form of loan forgiveness from the Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund) to Baltimore City, will help fund the Maryland Avenue Sanitary Sewer Improvements project in Baltimore City. The project entails improvements to the existing Baltimore City sanitary infrastructure in the Jones Falls Sewershed. The project is required by the 2002 Consent Decree among Baltimore City, the Maryland Department of the Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to meet Clean Water Act requirements. A portion of the pipe capacity is allocated to Baltimore County. The funding is for the Baltimore County share of the project cost.
Western Run Sanitary Sewer Improvements project – Baltimore County
A $2,321,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan to Baltimore County, in addition to a previously approved $8,913,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan to Baltimore City, will help fund the Western Run Sanitary Sewer Improvements project in Baltimore City. The project entails improvements to the existing Baltimore City sanitary infrastructure in the Jones Falls Sewershed. The project is required by the 2002 Consent Decree among Baltimore City, the Maryland Department of the Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to meet Clean Water Act requirements. A portion of the pipe capacity is allocated to Baltimore County. The funding is for the Baltimore County share of the project cost.
Stony Run Sanitary Sewer Improvements project – Baltimore County
A $250,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan to Baltimore County, in addition to previously approved funding totaling $8,430,000 (a $1,500,000 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Projects Supplemental Assistance Program grant and a $6,930,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan fund loan to Baltimore City), will help fund the Stony Run Sanitary Sewer Improvements project in Baltimore City. The project entails improvements to the existing Baltimore City sanitary infrastructure in the Jones Falls Sewershed. The project is required by the 2002 Consent Decree among Baltimore City, the Maryland Department of the Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to meet Clean Water Act requirements. A portion of the pipe capacity is allocated to Baltimore County. The funding is for the Baltimore County share of the project cost.
Enchanted Hill Pumping Station Improvements project – Baltimore County
A $1,553,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan to Baltimore County will help fund the Enchanted Hill Pumping Station Improvements project. The project entails upgrading the Enchanted Hills wastewater pumping station in the Owings Mills area, including the installation of new pumps, piping, controls and a standby generator. Baltimore County entered into a Consent Decree with the Maryland Department of the Environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice in 2005 to establish a program for engineering evaluation and rehabilitation of the Baltimore County sewer system to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows.
Wye Road Pumping Station Improvements project – Baltimore County
A $1,029,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan to Baltimore County will help fund the Wye Road Pumping Station Improvements project. The project entails upgrading the Wye Road wastewater pumping station in the Essex area, including the installation of new pumps, piping, controls and a standby generator. Baltimore County entered into a Consent Decree with the Maryland Department of the Environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice in 2005 to establish a program for engineering evaluation and rehabilitation of the Baltimore County sewer system to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows.
Thurmont Waste System Improvements project – Frederick County
Funding of $3,691,873 (a $2,815,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan and an $876,873 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Project Funds Supplemental Assistance Program grant) to the Town of Thurmont will help fund the Thurmont Waste System Improvements project. The project involves rehabilitation of the Town’s wastewater collection system, consisting of repair and replacement of defective sewer lines and manholes. The project is intended to remove major sources of infiltration and inflow in the Town’s wastewater collection system and to prevent sewer backups. The project will ultimately improve the operational capability of the Town’s wastewater treatment plant.
Westerly Subdivision Relining project – Montgomery County
A $2,545,000 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan to the Town of Poolesville will help fund the Westerly Subdivision Reclining project. The project involves the rehabilitation of a portion of the Town’s wastewater collection system in the Westerly area. The rehabilitation of the collection system will consist of relining and repairing defective sewer lines and manholes.
Koontz Source Water Storage Facility project – Allegany County
Funding of $1,500,000 (a $187,500 Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund loan and a $1,312,000 grant in the form of loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund) to the Town of Lonaconing will help fund the Koontz Source Water Storage Facility project. The project will involve replacement of the existing Koontz Reservoir in the Lonaconing area with a new raw water tank. The existing dam, which is more than 100 years old, is in danger of failure. The project also includes pipelines, stream restoration and ancillary facilities necessary to convey raw water to the water treatment plant.
Bedford Road Sanitary Sewer Rehab Phase 3 project – Allegany County
Funding of $1,100,000 (an $87,500 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Project Funds Supplemental Assistance Program grant, an $875,000 grant in the form of loan forgiveness from the Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund and a $137,500 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan) to Allegany County will help fund the Bedford Road Sanitary Sewer Rehab Phase 3 project. The project will rehabilitate the existing Bedford Road sanitary sewer system by repairing and replacing manholes and sewer lines and upgrading an existing wastewater pumping station.
Potomac Vista Community Water System project – Prince George’s County
Funding of $1,327,000 (a $166,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund loan and a $1,161,000 grant in the form of loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund) to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission will help fund the Potomac Vista Community Water System project. The project entails the design and construction of a public water distribution system to replace the deteriorated water supply system for the Potomac Vista community. The proposed system will be connected to the WSSC water system.
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