Maryland officials approved over $12 million in funding for the Smith Island Clean Water Project, which will replace a deteriorating wastewater treatment plant with a new Biological Nutrient Removal/Enhanced Nutrient Removal (BNR/ENR) wastewater treatment plant.
“Smith Island is an integral part of Maryland’s history, culture and Chesapeake Bay heritage,” says Maryland Environment Secretary Horacio Tablada. “The deteriorated condition of the existing wastewater system on Smith Island must be addressed to protect public health and the Chesapeake Bay. This project will be built following Coast Smart Program resiliency guidelines to reduce climate change risks.”
The Somerset County Sanitary District is receiving funds from multiple sources for the project: a $1.6 million Water Quality State Revolving Loan, a $2 million grant in the form of loan forgiveness, and an $8,891,604 Bay Restoration Fund grant. The district will use the funds for the planning, design, and construction of the new Ewell plant to replace the existing Tylerton wastewater treatment plant, which is more than 40 years old and in a deteriorated condition.
The multi-phase project also includes an upgrade of the wastewater collection and conveyance system, the decommissioning of the existing wastewater treatment plant, an overhaul of three existing pumping stations, and the construction of a new sanitary force main for the conveyance of wastewater from Tylerton to the new Ewell plant. This action pertains to the construction of the replaced plant.
The upgrade is estimated to lead to an 83 percent reduction in nitrogen discharged and a 90 percent reduction in phosphorus discharged to the Frances Gut and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
Excessive amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus lead to lowered levels of oxygen needed to support aquatic life in waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay. Enhanced Nutrient Removal upgrades of wastewater treatment plants are a critical component of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay restoration plan.
