Maryland Achieves Nearly All of 2025 Chesapeake Bay Restoration Goals

State officials announced that Maryland has achieved or exceed nearly all Bay pollution reduction targets.  Earlier this month, state officials announced Maryland has successfully met or surpassed nearly all of its pollution reduction targets set under the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement to improve water quality. Based on the most recent information from the Chesapeake Bay Program’s pollution model, Maryland achieved 100% of its sediment reduction goal, 100% of the phosphorus reduction goal and 99%…

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EPA Publishes New Guidance to Reduce Lead Exposure in Drinking Water

EPA recently released new guidance to help drinking water system operators reduce lead exposure.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released guidance to help drinking water systems that are working to keep their communities safe from lead. This guidance advances the agency’s commitment to clear and plain language communication while sharing information, definitions, and useful examples to help water systems comply with lead pipe replacement requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule. EPA is releasing two documents, Access…

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EPA Opens $10.8M in Grants to Strengthen Water Sector Workforce

EPA has opened applications for $10.8 million in grants to provide access to workforce opportunities and build career pipelines in the water sector. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened $10.8 million in grant funding to support training for workers in the water sector. These essential workers play a key role in treating our nation’s drinking water and providing wastewater services that protect human health and the environment. Enhancing recruitment and training for the water sector…

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Digging in on Data Centers at #MACoCon

Maryland leaders examine the opportunities, infrastructure demands, and local impacts of growing data center development. Data centers are emerging as a major economic development opportunity for Maryland, but their growth also raises important questions around energy demand, infrastructure capacity, land use, water resources, and community impacts. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Senator Ben Brooks moderated a standing room only panel with state, local, industry, and environmental leaders on how Maryland can support this growing…

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Rural Counties Confront the Growing Challenge of PFAS #MACoCon

Rural county leaders examine how PFAS contamination affects drinking water, agriculture, wastewater systems, and local communities. PFAS contamination presents distinct challenges for Maryland’s rural counties, where private wells, small water systems, agricultural operations, wastewater infrastructure, and biosolids management can all intersect with emerging state and federal requirements. At MACo’s 2026 Summer Conference, Queen Anne’s County Commissioner Jack Wilson moderated a discussion with Zach Schafer, Assistant Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, on the…

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Building the Bigger Picture at #MACoCon

County leaders examine how Maryland can plan, finance, and deliver infrastructure that supports growth, affordability, and resilient communities. Infrastructure touches nearly every county priority, from transportation, schools, and water systems to housing, economic development, and environmental resilience. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Senator Karen Lewis Young moderated a discussion with county and state infrastructure leaders on the challenges of planning, financing, and delivering the projects communities rely on, particularly as counties balance limited resources…

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From Risk to Resilience at #MACoCon

Maryland leaders examine the planning, financing, and local tools counties can use to strengthen community resilience. Resilience planning increasingly requires counties to connect emergency management, infrastructure, climate preparedness, and long-term investment. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Delegate Michele Guyton moderated a discussion with state, county, and national leaders on how Maryland can move from resilience planning to implementation, including the financing, technical assistance, and coordination needed to advance projects that reduce risk and strengthen…

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Bay Goals, Stormwater Realities at #MACoCon

State and county leaders examine stormwater, Bay restoration, infrastructure needs, and the evolving policies shaping local water quality efforts. The health of the Chesapeake Bay remains closely tied to county investments in stormwater management, wastewater systems, and other local infrastructure. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Delegate Dana Stein moderated a discussion with state and water policy experts on the next phase of Maryland’s Bay restoration efforts, including the future of the Bay Restoration Fund,…

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The Electric Slide at #MACoCon

Maryland leaders examine how AI and data center growth is reshaping energy demand, infrastructure, affordability, and local economic development. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence and data centers is creating new economic opportunities while placing significant pressure on Maryland’s energy system, infrastructure, and local communities. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo moderated a discussion with energy, utility, and consumer policy leaders on how rising electric demand could affect energy prices, grid capacity,…

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Moving at the Speed of Need at #MACoCon

State and county leaders examine how Maryland can make permitting more predictable and efficient while supporting responsible growth. Counties face growing pressure to move housing, commercial development, and critical infrastructure projects through the permitting process more efficiently, while still navigating complex regulatory requirements, public processes, and community priorities. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Senator Benjamin Brooks moderated a discussion with state and county planning leaders on improving coordination, increasing predictability, and finding practical ways…

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