(BALTIMORE, MD) September 10, 2008 - The Maryland Board of Public Works today approved over $780,000 in Bay Restoration Fund grants for a capital construction project to improve water quality in Allegany County and a Supplemental Water Quality and Health Grant of $300,000 to Garrett County. The Board is comprised of Governor Martin O’Malley, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp, and Comptroller Peter Franchot.
“Water is one of our most precious resources. Improving drinking water and wastewater treatment is a priority for Maryland and all of our towns and cities,” said Governor O’Malley. "These projects are critical components of the state-wide effort to protect Maryland’s drinking water and improve wastewater treatment.”
Barton & Midland Water Line Replacement Project - Allegany County
The Board approved a grant of $780,000 from the Bay Restoration Fund for a capital construction project to Allegany County. The proposed project involves the replacement of old water mains within the existing water distribution system for the towns of Barton and Midland, which are run by the Town of Lonaconing. The existing galvanized and cast iron piping suffers from tuberculation, which is the formation of small mounds of corrosion products that roughen the inside of the pipe and increase its resistance to water flow. The piping is generally in deteriorated condition, leading to a high potential for leakage and subsequent contamination.
Friendsville Inflow & Infiltration Reduction – Garrett County
The Board approved a Supplemental Water Quality and Health Grant of $300,000 to the Town of Friendsville to rehabilitate and/or replace portions of the sewage collection system to reduce the amount of inflow and infiltration. Inflow and infiltration problems have diminished the available capacity of Friendsville’s wastewater treatment plant, thus creating a moratorium on new connections to the wastewater collection system. Inflow/infiltration problems tend to increase operational costs and increase the likelihood of sanitary sewer overflows and plant bypasses, both of which jeopardize public health. These overflows can contaminate the Youghiogheny River, a popular recreational waterway.
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