ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 17, 2006) – Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. announces Board of Public Works approval today of a $100,000 state Bay Restoration Fund grant to finance the upgrade of the Bowie wastewater treatment plant in Prince George’s County. The Board is comprised of Governor Ehrlich, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller William D. Schaefer.

“Every grant and state loan dollar spent on wastewater treatment are an investment we must make,” Governor Ehrlich said. “They are an essential part of Maryland’s long-standing effort toward reducing 40 percent of the amount of nutrients being discharged to the Bay.”

Excess nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, lead to degraded water quality, which negatively impact the ecology of the Bay and its tributaries.

The project at the Bowie wastewater treatment plant will consist of planning and design for enhanced nutrient removal (ENR) at the existing 3.3 million gallon per day (mdg) facility. The ENR improvements include conversion of the existing oxidation ditches to the 5-stage Bardenpho Process with mechanical aerators. Upon completion of the ENR upgrade, the facility will be capable of achieving effluent with total nitrogen of 3 milligrams per liter and phosphorus of 0.3 milligrams per liter, drastically reducing nutrients entering the Patuxent River.

“We appreciate the continued support of the Maryland Department of the Environment in our mutual goal of improving the water quality in the Chesapeake Bay,” said City of Bowie Public Works Director R. James Henrikson. “With the proposed enhanced nutrient removal grant money, the City of Bowie will be able to reduce nutrient flows to the Bay to a much greater extend.”

The anticipated cost of the design phase of this project is approximately $600,000 of which the local share of $100,000 will be paid by the City of Bowie.

Planning was completed in January 2006. Construction is expected to being in September 2007 with a completion date of September 2009.

###​