ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 5, 2002) – Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend today announced Maryland Board of Public Works approval of a $100,000 grant to Worcester County to initiate a project to rehabilitate the sewer system in the town of Snow Hill. The grant from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) will allow engineers to design and construct a rehabilitated sewer system with separation of the current combined sewer, which will eliminate inflow, infiltration and persistent overflow problems throughout the town of Snow Hill.

“The lower Eastern Shore is one of the most environmentally fragile areas in Maryland and it is critical that we do whatever is necessary to eliminate any threat to the health of Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries while protecting the health of area residents,” said Lt. Governor Townsend. “The funding approved today will allow a project to progress that is designed to prevent overflows and, ultimately, eliminate the potential for adverse impacts on the environmental and public health of Snow Hill residents.”

Worcester County officials are hoping the project in Snow Hill will reduce the hydraulic loading on the town’s treatment plant during high levels of precipitation, while consistently complying with the amount of discharge allowed by state permit requirements.

“The mayor and council of Snow Hill are grateful to MDE for their grant of $100,000 in support of our wastewater collection system rehabilitation project,” said Snow Hill Town Manager Kelly Brewington. “The project is part of an ongoing effort to eliminate storm water from flowing into the wastewater system, thereby reducing the risk of overflow into the Pocomoke River.”

The total cost of the project is $1.8 million of which $397,725 is being funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Construction is expected to begin in December 2002 and completed by May 2003.

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