Board of Public Works approves funding for clean water and the Chesapeake Bay

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Board of Public Works approves funding for clean water and the Chesapeake Bay

Loans will improve wastewater infrastructure, reduce pollution

Baltimore, MD (October 5, 2016) – The Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $9 million in funding today to  improve water quality and reduce sewage backups and overflows through a major project at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Board is composed of Governor Larry Hogan, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

“These are smart investments to protect public health and prevent water pollution in Maryland communities and the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland Department of the Environment thanks Governor Hogan for his leadership on this environmental priority,” said Maryland Secretary of the Environment Ben Grumbles. “We said we would support Baltimore City’s work to stop sewage overflows to meet the requirements of our consent decree, and this funding will help the City move forward on the critical ‘headworks’ project at the Back River sewage treatment plant. We will continue to push aggressively for environmental progress and public accountability while looking for ways to help provide financial assistance.”

The following project was approved today:

Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant Headworks Improvement and Wet Weather Flow Equalization project – Baltimore City and Baltimore County

Water Quality State Revolving Loan Fund loans totaling $9,135,000 ($4,635,000 to Baltimore City and $4.5 million to Baltimore County) will help fund a new “headworks” facility at Baltimore City’s Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant. This contract, the first of two, includes sewer line relocations, building and equipment demolition, grading and other related site work. The overall project will protect the plant treatment processes and relieve restrictions to reduce sewage backups and overflows. This project is part of Baltimore 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. The Department of the Environment and its federal partners have reached an agreement with Baltimore City – a proposed modification of a 2002 consent decree – to greatly reduce the amount of sewage that overflows in the city within less than five years.

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