20070403 MDE: Westminster Sign Agreement to Protect the City’s Water Supply and Maryland’s Water Resources

20070403 MDE: Westminster Sign Agreement to Protect the City’s Water Supply and Maryland’s Water Resources

Press Releases

Maryland Department of the Environment

Media Contacts

Julie Oberg (410) 537-3003

Robert Ballenger (410) 537-3012

MDE, Westminster Sign Agreement to Protect the City’s Water Supply and Maryland’s Water Resources

http://www.mde.state.md.us/PressReleases/971.html

Westminster, MD (April 3, 2007) – Maryland Department of the Environment and the City of Westminster today signed a Consent Order that exemplifies a cooperative and comprehensive approach to address the City’s water supply needs at the same time that it ensures the protection of Maryland’s water resources.

“The droughts of 1999 and 2002 highlighted the need to fully evaluate water system capacities, as many sources in Central Maryland, including Westminster’s, were unable to meet public water demand without seriously impacting the natural resources that also depend upon that water,” said MDE Deputy Secretary Robert M. Summers, Ph.D.

“MDE applauds the cooperative approach that Mayor Thomas K. Ferguson and the City Council are taking to address the current situation in a manner that is environmentally protective.

We also appreciate the support provided by Carroll County throughout this process. Continued protection of the environment requires that we are able to support smart growth and meet the needs of our citizens living in areas served by state-of-the-art water and wastewater infrastructure. Our signing of this agreement today is evidence of MDE’s ongoing commitment to work with Westminster, Carroll County and the rest of our local governments to ensure that these goals are accomplished.”

The City followed MDE’s recently issued capacity management guidelines and performed a comprehensive analysis of the water system’s demand and capacity under drought of record conditions, which showed a significant deficit would occur. MDE, with the cooperation of the Carroll County Health Department, delayed approval of any new development that would increase the water system demand until the Consent Order was signed to ensure appropriate protection of public health and the environment when the next drought occurs.

The Consent Order:

provides the necessary framework to resolve the drought year deficit;

requires a schedule for meeting both short and long term water supply needs (e.g, the Medford Quarry pipeline will address the City’s short term needs);

establishes a timeline for completing plans (water loss reduction and conservation plans) to better manage the existing system’s capacity;

ensures that an interim contingency plan is in place to address drought conditions;

modifies operating conditions of the City’s surface water withdrawal permit under drought conditions; and,

grants a limited water quantity for planned development.

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20070328 Westminster to sign water agreement with MDE

Westminster to sign water agreement with MDE

March 28^th, 2007

Kelsey Volkmann writing for the Baltimore Examiner reports that the City of Westminster and the Maryland Department of the Environment have come to an agreement “an agreement on how much water there is in Westminster’s system and how much water is expected to be after Westminster completes the improvements we have been talking about doing,” Council Member Gregory Pecoraro said.”

The article dated today, March 28^th, 2007 can be found here: “Building can soon begin again in Westminster.”

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20060926 City of Westminster, Carroll County Maryland Drinking Water Supply Capacity Management Plan

20060926 City of Westminster, Carroll County Maryland Drinking Water Supply Capacity Management Plan

September 26, 2006

City of Westminster

Drinking Water Supply Capacity Management Plan

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Objectives

MDE requirements for Water Supply Capacity Management Plan

Water System Reliable Capacity

Projected Water Demand

Historical Water Supply Investigations

Solutions to Drought of Record Water Deficit

Impact of 2002 Drought On MDE Policies

• As a result of the drought, MDE developed “Final Water Supply Capacity Management Plan (WSCMP) Guidance Manual” published in July 2006

GUIDANCE DOCUMENT WATER SUPPLY CAPACITY MANAGEMENT PLANS

• MDE requires municipalities to complete and submit a WSCMP if they meet one of several triggers:

• Recommends every community over 5,000 gpd prepare a WSCMP

• Water system operating at 80% or more of design capacity

• Request an expansion

• Request modification to Water Appropriation Permit

• Operating subject to a consent order with MDE or EPA

Components of WSCMP Components of WSCMP

A WSCMP requires the following information:

• Reliable capacity of the existing water system components

• Ground Water Supply (11 wells)

• Surface Water Supply (2 water intakes)

• Water treatment plants (2 plants)

• Water distribution system including fire control, etc.

• Existing and future water demand based on population projections and development

• Determination of the water supply excess or deficit

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City of Westminster’s Water System Existing System

• 115-MG Raw Water Reservoir

• Permitted Surface & Ground Water Supplies = 3.48 mgd

• Water Treatment Plant Capacity = 3.25 mgd

• Finished Water Storage – Total 6.9 mgd

Reliable Capacity under “Drought of Record”

• Ground Water = 1.18 mgd (historical records)

• Surface Water = 1.05 mgd (flow mass analysis)

• Total Reliable Capacity = 2.23 mgd

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Historical Water Supply Investigations

• Early 1980s: R.E. Wright performed extensive hydrogeological evaluations

• Initial investigations indicated 12 – 14 million gallons per day of ground water available

• 1985 - 2006:

• Drilled recommended sites with mixed success

• Existing Wells No. 3 – 11 based on recommendations; typically 4 test wells at each site prior to locating water source

• Well 11 in final design stages

• Windemere – no water source located

• Pools Meadow – no water source located

• 1985 – 1987: Investigated Hydes Quarry

• 2002: Medford Quarry Emergency Water Source, Connected Wakefield to main system

• 2003: Hoff Nagana Test Wells (developer’s expense, no water available), Proposed reuse water for golf course irrigation (owner not interested)

• 2004:

• Cranberry WTP Upgrade to improve reliable treatment of poorer water quality

• Evaluation of Raw Water Reservoir Expansion by raising water level

• Evaluation of Raw Water Reservoir through purchase of land

• 2005: Evaluation of Little Pipe Creek

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Water Supply Alternatives

On-Going Solutions

• Medford Quarry (0.5 mgd)

• Design change to pump to existing Cranberry Reservoir

• Reliable capacity = 0.5 mgd

• Anticipated start of construction July 2007

• Expansion of 115 Million Gallon Raw Water Reservoir

• Final negotiations under way

• Currently under evaluation

• Anticipated reliable capacity = 0.4 mgd

• Koontz Creamery

• Currently requesting proposals

• Anticipated reliable capacity = 0.3 mgd

Water Supply Alternatives - Additional Solutions

• Little Pipe Creek

• Currently in permitting phase

• Roops Mills Well Connection

• Currently at 85% of design

• Working through easements

• Anticipated start of construction Spring 2007

• Water Conservation Plan

• Educational programs under development

• Developing public awareness programs

• Water saving incentive programs under development

• Big Pipe Creek

• Submitted water appropriation permit

• Evaluation is underway

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20010829 MDE: Westminster awarded grant to upgrade wastewater treatment plant

20010829 MDE: Westminster awarded grant to upgrade wastewater treatment plant

Press Releases

Maryland Department of the Environment

Richard McIntire (410) 537-3012 (410) 716-8784-Pager

CARROLL COUNTY AWARDED GRANT TO UPGRADE WESTMINSTER'S WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

http://www.mde.state.md.us/PressReleases/133.html

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 29, 2001) – Governor Parris N. Glendening today announced Maryland Board of Public Works’ approval of a $164,562 grant for Carroll County to upgrade and expand the existing Westminster Wastewater Treatment Plant so that it may operate more efficiently.

“We are taking progressive steps to protect our finite natural resources without compromising the high quality of service Marylanders expect,” said Governor Glendening. “This funding will allow Carroll County to serve citizens from the Westminster Wastewater Treatment Plant in a more efficient and effective way while at the same time, reducing the amount of nutrients being released into Maryland’s waterways. This grant assists with our on-going efforts to target state funds in Priority Funding Areas consistent with our Smart Growth Initiative.”

The upgrade to the existing Westminster treatment plant will include the construction of a Biological Nutrient Removal facility to improve nitrogen removal to a level of 8 milligrams per liter. The project also includes an expansion to increase the wastewater treatment capacity to 5 million gallons per day.

County officials are hoping this grant from the Maryland Department of the Environment’s (MDE) Water Quality Infrastructure Program will assist them in helping meet the Chesapeake Bay nutrient reduction goal of 40 percent.

“The financial assistance from MDE and the state of Maryland is essential to allow the city to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant,” said Westminster Mayor Kenneth A. Yowan. “This project will enhance water quality in the Little Pipe Creek watershed and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.

The total cost of the project is $4.2 million of which $2.1 million is the local share being paid by the city of Westminster. The grant approved today increases the state’s participation in the project to more than $2.1 million.

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Water and Sewer Westminster, Water and Sewer Westminster Wastewater Treatment Plant