EPA News: EPA Approves Maryland Plan to Improve Water Quality

EPA Press Release:

EPA Approves Maryland Plan to Improve Water Quality

PHILADELPHIA (October 2, 2019) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it has approved and helped fund a $297 million plan by Maryland to implement key water infrastructure projects, including upgraded wastewater treatment plants and stormwater control measures to better serve residents, increase efficiency and reduce pollution.

Maryland’s Intended Use Plan includes a $38.4 million grant from EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), $7.7 million state matching funds, repayments from prior CWSRF loans, and interest earnings.

“The revolving fund program is essential to providing all Americans the clean and safe water they deserve,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. “EPA is proud to support Maryland’s plan and remains committed to helping communities with infrastructure improvements that protect their water resources”

Some of the projects targeted for funding in the state’s CWSRF plan include:

• $11.7 million to Talbot County for a sewer line extension project to serve more than 600 properties, including many that are currently served by failing septic systems that lead to wastewater discharges into waterways that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. This project will help prevent tens of thousands of pounds of pollution from entering the Bay.
• $1.7 million to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission to repair and replace sewer lines in Prince George’s County to help minimize and eliminate sewage overflows.
• $35.9 million to Baltimore City and $50.5 million to Baltimore County for upgrades to the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant. Funding will support electrical improvements and replacement of five substations. The upgraded power capabilities will protect the plant’s treatment processes from wet weather flows, helping to ensure untreated flows go into storage tanks, rather than into local waterways.
• $35 million to the Urban Stormwater Retrofit Program Public-Private Partnership in Prince George’s County. This project involves the planning, design and construction of multiple projects to store or treat stormwater runoff to reduce pollutants from entering local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. Projects range from installing small rain gardens to large urban retrofit solutions, such as pond retrofits and green streets.

A full list of CWSRF projects to be funded can be found at: https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/water/WQFA/Pages/index.aspx

The CWSRF program provides low interest loans for the construction of wastewater treatment facilities and other projects vital to protecting and improving water quality in rivers, lakes and streams for drinking water, recreation and natural habitat. The loans help communities keep water and sewer rates more affordable while addressing local water quality problems.

For more information about EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program: https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf