ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 7, 2007) – Governor Martin O’Malley announced Board of Public Works approval yesterday of a $1.47 million State Supplemental Grant increase for the Town of Elkton to upgrade the Elkton Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Board is comprised of Governor Martin O’Malley, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

“Upgrading wastewater treatment plants is critical to achieving nutrient reductions discharged into the Chesapeake Bay,” said Shari T. Wilson, secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). “We serve Marylanders to protect and restore the state’s natural resources. These grants are significant in expediting the technological advancements to reduce nutrient flow to the Bay.”

This project involves upgrading the existing 2.7 million gallons per day wastewater treatment plant to achieve Enhanced Nutrient Removal (​ENR) with effluent concentration goals of 3.0 milligrams per liter (mg/l) for nitrogen and 0.3 mg/l phosphorus. Once upgraded, the facility will result in a decrease in nitrogen by 79 percent (a 138,000 pounds reduction) and phosphorus by 86 percent (a 16,700 pound reduction) from entering the receiving Big Elk River and Chesapeake Bay.

“We are strongly committed to this project,” said Town of Elkton Mayor Joesph L. Fisona. “We look to continuing success for our relationship with Maryland’s Department of the Environment to achieve our goal of protecting one of Maryland’s most precious resources.”

Upgrading the facility will help Maryland’s effort to achieve a 40 percent reduction in the amount of nutrients discharged to the Chesapeake Bay and to meet its commitments under the Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement. When Maryland’s 66 major plants are upgraded through the fund, there will be a 7.5 million pound annual reduction in nitrogen and a 260,000-pound annual reduction in phosphorus flowing into the Bay’s tributaries.

The construction is in progress, and is expected to be complete in August 2008.

###