BALTIMORE, MD (January 2, 2013) – The Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $300,000 in grants today to reduce pollution and improve water quality by building a pumping station for an upgraded wastewater treatment plant. The Board is composed of Governor Martin O’Malley, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot. Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown represented Governor O’Malley at today’s meeting.   

“Projects such as these are an important part of our effort to improve Maryland waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay,” said Lieutenant Governor Brown. “These projects reduce pollution and protect the environment and public health while creating jobs for more Marylanders.”

The following project was approved today:

Salisbury Wastewater Treatment Plant Drain Pump Station -- Wicomico County

A $188,000 Bay Restoration Fund grant and a $211,302 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Projects grant to the City of Salisbury will help fund the design and construction of a new pump station for the Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) and Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) upgrades at the existing 8.5 million gallons-per-day Salisbury Wastewater Treatment Plant. After the completion of the pump station project and the BNR and ENR upgrades the facility will reduce its nitrogen discharge by 63 percent and its phosphorus discharge by 82 percent, significantly reducing the amount of nutrients discharged into the Wicomico River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. Excessive amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus lead to lowered levels of oxygen needed to support aquatic life in waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay. Enhanced Nutrient Removal upgrades of the state’s major wastewater treatment plants are a critical component of Maryland’s Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan.

 

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