The Maryland Board of Public Works has approved more than $2.6 million in grants and loans to reduce water pollution and improve a drinking water system. The board is composed of Governor Larry Hogan, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot.
Maryland Environment Secretary, Ben Grumbles said: “These are smart investments to protect public health and the environment. Reducing combined sewer overflows in Western Maryland, upgrading the Grantsville wastewater treatment plant and improving the drinking water system in Federalsburg help deliver on our clean and safe water commitments, while boosting the economy locally and across the state.”
The following projects were approved:
Frostburg Combined Sewer Overflow Elimination, Beall Street Corridor project – Allegany County
Funding of $1,256,607 – a $1,211,602 Bay Restoration Fund grant and a $45,005 Chesapeake Bay Water Quality supplemental assistance grant – to the City of Frostburg will help fund the next phase in a project to separate combined sewers within the City of Frostburg and reduce the frequency and volume of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) that occur during wet weather. This project will replace the aging combined sewer system with a new separated sanitary system to significantly reduce wet weather wastewater flows to downstream facilities of Allegany County, the Town of LaVale and the City of Cumberland Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project will reduce CSO discharges in compliance with MDE’s consent decree with the City of Frostburg. This project is consistent with Maryland’s climate change adaptation and resiliency objectives through the reduction of runoff that is exacerbated by increased precipitation or flooding events.
Grantsville Wastewater Treatment Plant Enhanced Nutrient Removal Upgrade project – Garrett County
A $776,526 Bay Restoration Fund grant to the Town of Grantsville will fund the planning and design of a project to upgrade the Grantsville Wastewater Treatment Plant so that it can achieve Enhanced Nutrient Removal standards. The plant cannot meet its permit limits and has had several occurrences of significant non-compliance. The Town has entered into a Consent Order with MDE. This project will serve the Town of Grantsville as well as surrounding areas of Garrett County and will reduce nutrient pollution discharged to the Youghiogheny River. This project will be designed in accordance with coastal and non-coastal resiliency guidelines developed as part of the Coast Smart Program to reduce climate change risks to such projects.
Federalsburg Old Denton Road Water Main project – Caroline County
Funding of $638,350 – a $319,175 Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund loan and a $319,175 grant in the form of forgiveness of a Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund loan – to the Town of Federalsburg will fund the replacement of failing asbestos cement pipe for water service in Federalsburg. The existing pipe is over 50 years old and has had several water main breaks in recent years. The replacement is to prevent health issues to the consumers and workers and provide a secured, uninterrupted water supply to the town’s service area. This project will be constructed in accordance with coastal and non-coastal resiliency guidelines developed as part of the Coast Smart Program to reduce climate change risks to such projects.
Do you have an article that you would like to share? Submit your article here or keep up with the latest news from the water industry and wastewater industry by subscribing to our weekly newsletter.
