(BALTIMORE, MD) June 18, 2009- The Maryland Board of Public Works approved $23,277,282 million in grants to upgrade wastewater treatment plants, rehabilitate sewers, and provide quality drinking water to Maryland residents. The Board is comprised of Governor Martin O’Malley, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp, and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

“After decades of setting far-away restoration goals, Maryland recently committed to ambitious two-year milestones that more than double our nutrient reduction goals by 2020. A key strategy that will achieve this goal is upgrading wastewater treatment plants and septic systems across the State. The upcoming construction start for the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade is a major accomplishment,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “Once the Patapsco project is complete we will reduce nitrogen from Maryland’s largest 67 plants by more than 30 percent.”

The following projects were approved in the following locations:

• Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant BNR/ENR Upgrade and Expansion – Baltimore City

  This $20,107,687 grant from the BNR Cost-Share Program will fund the planning, design, and construction of BNR and Enhanced Nutrient Reduction (ENR) facilities at the existing Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant. Upon completion of the BNR and ENR upgrades, the Patapsco WWTP will reduce its discharge of total nitrogen by 83 percent and total phosphorous by 85 percent, significantly reducing nutrients discharged to the Patapsco River and ultimately to the Chesapeake Bay. The project also expands the plant capacity from 73 to 81 million gallons per day.

• Easton Wastewater Treatment Plant BNR/ENR Upgrade and Expansion – Talbot County

  This $800,000 grant increase from the Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) Cost-Share Program, in addition to previous grants totaling $17,590,000, will fund upgrades to the BNR and ENR facilities at the existing Easton Wastewater Treatment Plant. Upon completion of the BNR and ENR upgrades, the Easton WWTP will reduce total nitrogen by 83 percent and total phosphorous by 81 percent, significantly reducing nutrients discharged to the Choptank River and ultimately to the Chesapeake Bay. The project also expands the plant capacity from 2.35 to 4.0 million gallons per day.

• Emmitsburg Wastewater Treatment Plant BNR/ENR Upgrade – Frederick County

  This $543,590 grant increase from the Supplemental Assistance Program, in addition to previous grants totaling $50,000, will fund the planning, design, and construction of BNR and ENR facilities at the existing Emmitsburg Wastewater Treatment Plant. Upon completion of the BNR and ENR upgrades, the Emmitsburg WWTP will reduce total nitrogen by 83 percent and total phosphorous by 85 percent, significantly reducing nutrients discharged to the Upper Monocacy River, to the Potomac River, and ultimately to the Chesapeake Bay.

• Septic System Upgrades to Reduce Nitrogen – Charles County

  This $900,000 grant from the Bay Restoration Fund will be used to upgrade on-site sewage disposal systems to remove nitrogen. The installation of 60 septic systems with nitrogen-removing technology will reduce the amount of nitrogen going into local waterways by 960 lbs per year.

• The Mountain Lake Park Sewer Rehabilitation Phase III – Garrett County

  This $750,000 grant from the Bay Restoration Fund will replace deteriorated pipes and manholes within the Mountain Lake Park Sewer System. This project will lessen inflow and infiltration to the county owned Trout Run Wastewater Treatment Plant, decreasing costs at the plant and reducing the likelihood of sanitary sewer overflows and sewage backups throughout the collection system that can pollute local waterways.

• Westernport Water Filtration Plant Upgrade – Allegany County

  This $176,005 grant increase from the Water Supply Program, in addition to previous grants totaling $1,088,573, will fund upgrades to the existing Westernport Water Treatment Plant processes and finished water hydraulics. Outdated facilities and equipment will be replaced with more current technology to provide a high quality drinking water supply for 2,200 Westernport residents. This upgrade will also provide reliability and flexibility in plant operations and address regulatory and technical concerns that will result in a higher degree of compliance with State and Federal regulations.

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