ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 20, 2008) – The Maryland Board of Public Works, recently approved $2 million in grants toward the planning phase of capital construction projects to improve wastewater treatment at the Blue Plains Treatment Plant. Approximately $8 million in additional funds from DC WASA, WSSC, and Virginia will be provided for planning. This project will assist the planning phase needed to ultimately reduce nutrient pollution from the Blue Plains Plant by upgrading the treatment technology. The Board is comprised of Governor Martin O’Malley, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

“Upgrading the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant is a priority not only for Maryland but for all of the Chesapeake Bay Program jurisdictions. This is the beginning of a concerted effort to get the funding in place to upgrade the Plant to meet the Chesapeake Bay nutrient reduction goals. The Chesapeake Bay Executive Council when it met last December, agreed that this upgrade project is, individually, one of the most significant steps that can be taken to restore the Bay.” said Governor O’Malley.

Blue Plains WWTP BNR/ENR Upgrade (Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission)

The Board approved a $2 million grant toward the planning phase to construct the Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) and Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) facilities at the existing 370 million gallon per day (MGD) Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) to achieve effluent concentrations goal of 3 mg/l for Total Nitrogen(the plant is already achieving 0.18 mg/l total phosphorus). Blue Plains is the largest wastewater treatment plant in the Country that uses advanced nutrient technology. The nutrient removal at the Blue Plains wastewater treatment facility is essential for the success of Maryland’s effort to meet its commitments under the Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement.

Upgrading the Blue Plains WWTP is a major project involving Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia at a projected cost of $1.5 billion. The project will also involve the correction of sewage overflow issues expected to cost $1.4 billion.

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