ANNAPOLIS, MD (JUNE 7, 2006) – Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. announced Board of Public Works approval today of $200,000 to finance for the planning and design phase of the City of Aberdeen Wastewater Treatment Plant to upgrade to Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR). Today’s actions are in the form of a grant of $200,000 from the Bay Restoration Fund. The Board is comprised of Governor Ehrlich, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller William D. Schaefer.

“The Bay Restoration Fund is awarded to help cities like Aberdeen to improve advanced nutrient removal and protect the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries,” said Governor Ehrlich. “The state takes pride in keeping up with the evolving infrastructure of communities like Aberdeen to live up to our Chesapeake Bay 2000 commitment.”

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

The project involves the planning and design phase for ENR at the existing 4.0 million gallons per day City of Aberdeen Wastewater Treatment Plant to achieve effluent concentrations of 3 milligrams per liter (mg/l) for total Nitrogen and 0.3 mg/l for total phosphorous.

“The City of Aberdeen is committed to implementing the enhanced nutrient removal technology which will reduce the overall nitrogen and phosphorous load to Swan Creek and the Chesapeake Bay,” said Ken Benner, supervisor of water and wastewater, City of Aberdeen. “In addition, the city will consider alternatives to accommodate peak flows received at the facility to reduce the number of overflows.”

The total project cost is $7 million. Design of this project is expected to begin June of this year, with a design completion date of August 2007.

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