Press Release

(BALTIMORE, MD) November 17, 2010 - The Maryland Board of Public Works approved nearly $3 million in grants to reduce pollution and improve water quality by upgrading wastewater collection systems and improving drinking water. The Board is composed of Governor Martin O'Malley, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp, and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

"These projects significantly reduce nutrient pollution, improve drinking water, protect public health, and put people to work across the State," said Governor Martin O'Malley.

The following projects were approved in the following locations:

Christ Rock Public Water Service - City of Cambridge - Dorchester County

This $243,791 Water Supply grant, in addition to a previous $474,722 Water Supply Grant and a $223,400 Community Development Block Grant, will extend drinking water service to existing homes in the Christ Rock area, where drinking water wells are shallow and have been affected by failing septic tanks. This project will provide 45 homes with safe drinking water supplied by the City of Cambridge.
Christ Rock Public Sewer Project Grant - City of Cambridge - Dorchester County

This $458,864 Supplemental Assistance Grant, in addition to a previous $500,000 Water Supply Grant and a $365,100 Community Development Block Grant, will extend public sewer service to 45 Christ Rock area homes with failing on-site septic systems, where the properties are on small lots and require frequent septic tank pump outs. This proposed wastewater collection system will collect and convey wastewater to the Cambridge wastewater treatment plant and prevent groundwater contamination and protect public health.
Frostburg Raw Water Transmission Main Upgrades & Low Head Hydroelectric Plant - Allegany County

This $500,000 Water Supply Grant, in addition to over $1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Appalachian Regional Commission, will replace thedeteriorated and undersized portions of the water transmission mains to increase the reliability and energy efficiency of the water conveyance system associated with pumping water over Big Savage Mountain to the water treatment plant. The City will install a hydroelectric power plant at the water supply dam near the water treatment plant to recapture the energy spent pumping the water over Big Savage Mountain.
Frostburg Combined Sewer Overflow Elimination - Allegany County

A $1,100,00 Bay Restoration Fund Sewer Rehabilitation Grant and a $298,000 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Project Funds Grant, in addition to a $358,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant, will improvethe existing sanitary and combined sewer infrastructure through the planning, design, and construction of supplemental gravity and pressure sewers, replacement and rehabilitation of sewer lines, upgrades to existing pumping stations, and other related improvements to prevent the occurrence of combined sewer overflows. This project is a component of the City of Frostburg's Long-Term Control Plan for eliminating combined sewer overflows. Once complete, the improvements will reduce pollution to local streams, rivers, and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.
Westernport Combined Sewer Overflow Elimination - Allegany County

A $1,032,519 Bay Restoration Fund Sewer Rehabilitation Grant and a $294,500 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Project Funds Grant will fund the planning, design, and construction to separate the combined sewer system and eliminate the problem of combined sewer overflows in the Town of Westernport, as well as the installation of new pipelines, manholes, and related infrastructure. Once complete, the improvements will reduce pollution to local streams, rivers, and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.

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