ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 12, 2001) – The Maryland Board of Public Works approved today a $500,000 grant to upgrade and expand the Chestertown Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kent County.

Marylanders deserve to have access of the best public services our municipalities can offer,” said Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who chaired today’s Board meeting. “The funds approved today will improve the quality of life to the 4,200 residents served by the plant while also improving the local water quality.”

The project at the Chestertown Wastewater Treatment Plant will consist of planning, designing and constructing a biological nutrient removal facility (BNR), which will reduce the plant’s total nitrogen removal to a yearly average of 8 milligrams per liter. Removal of nutrients, like nitrogen, from the plant is essential in the success of Maryland’s effort to achieve a 40 percent reduction in the amount of nutrients discharged to the Chesapeake Bay.

The town of Chestertown is pleased to participate in Maryland’s Biological Nutrient Removal program and appreciates the Maryland Department of the Environment’s efforts to assist us with grants and loans,” said Chestertown Town Manager W.S. Ingersoll. “The Chester River is an extraordinary river with a rich colonial maritime history. It is incumbent upon us to insure that the Chester River is as clean as it can be for our own use and the use of future generations and upgrade of the Chestertown wastewater treatment plant will definitely improve the river’s quality.”

The total cost of the project is $2.6 million of which $1.3 million is the local share being paid by Chestertown. Today’s Board action is the first part of the state’s commitment to the same amount. The project is expected to get underway soon after the New Year in March and will be completed by November.

Usually chaired by Governor Parris N. Glendening, the Board of Public Works also is comprised of Comptroller William Donald Schaefer and Treasurer Richard N. Dixon. The Board is empowered by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.

###