The Board of Public Works today approved funding for several water infrastructure upgrades across five jurisdictions.
During its video conference meeting today the Board of Public Works approved several funding allocations from state sources such as the Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund and the Bay Restoration Fund. The approvals total over $100 million dollars, and will go to projects such as upgrades to wastewater treatment plants and drinking water systems. In a press release the Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles praised the approvals.
From the press release:
“These are smart investments to protect public health and prevent water pollution in Maryland communities and the Chesapeake Bay,” said Maryland Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles. “We are providing major funding to Baltimore City and Baltimore County for improvements to sewer systems, including the Back River treatment plant’s headworks project. This is one of the most important steps we can take to prevent sewage in the streets and basements, and we continue to insist on compliance with our clean water laws. Improved environmental infrastructure and energy efficiency saves money, reduces pollution and helps us to green and grow the state’s economy.”
Approved projects:
Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant Headworks Improvement and Wet Weather Flow Equalization project – Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
Funding of more than $55 million – a $22,607,735 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan to Baltimore City and a $32,625,500 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan to Baltimore County – will help fund a new “headworks” facility at Baltimore City’s Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Multiple sewer infrastructure projects – Baltimore City and Baltimore County
Funding of more than $77 million – more than $60 million in Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loans, along with more than $2.6 million in grants in the form of loan forgiveness and a $10.6 million Bay Restoration Fund grant, to Baltimore City and nearly $4 million in Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loans to Baltimore County – will help fund a continuation of the city’s efforts to prevent sanitary sewer overflows as required by a consent decree initiated by the Maryland Department of the Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Anne Arundel County Municipal Discharge at Broadneck and Annapolis Water Reclamation Facilities project – Anne Arundel County
An $8,181,550 Bay Restoration Fund grant to the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works will provide funding stemming from the Clean Water Commerce Act for the development and implementation of advanced online instrumentation and expanded wastewater treatment.
Newark Spray Irrigation project – Worcester County
Funding of $2,093,542 – a $1,046,771 Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loan and a $1,046,771 grant in the form of loan forgiveness to Worcester County – will fund the planning, design and construction of a new spray irrigation system for discharging effluent from the Newark Wastewater Treatment Plant to land owned by the county.
North East Water Quality Improvement Projects – Cecil County
Funding of $746,280 – a $559,710 Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund loan and a $186,570 Water Supply Financial Assistance grant to the town of North East will help fund the design and installation of mixers in finished water storage tanks serving North East’s water distribution system.
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