FROSTBURG, MD (April 10, 1998) -- In a cooperative effort between State, county and local governments, a project was recently completed to extend the Frostburg Public Water distribution system to supply clean water to four homes just north of Midland, in Allegany County.

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) provided $115,500 of the $129,000 total project cost from the Maryland abandoned mine lands program. The program receives funds from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining, which collects taxes on each ton of coal mined in the United States and distributes funds to producing states for use on abandoned mine related problems.

The private water supplies of two of the four residences were contaminated beginning in 1979 by acid drainage from abandoned and forfeited coal mines. The acid water, which contains high concentrations of iron, stains clothes and dishes, causes corrosion of pipes and fixtures and is unsuitable for most household needs.

The waterline extension, which was constructed by Walter N. Yoder and Sons, was completed last February. Engineering, contract management and construction inspection was provided by the Allegany County Department of Public Works.

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