Baltimore County reviews 2025 water and sewer service maps amid ongoing deficiencies

The Baltimore County Planning Board meeting held on February 6, 2025, focused on critical updates regarding the county's water and sewer systems. The meeting highlighted ongoing deficiencies and areas of concern, particularly in the sewer system, while also reporting positive developments in water service.

The Department of Public Works presented the 2025 basic services map for water, indicating that there are currently no deficient areas. All fire flow tests conducted met or exceeded the required pressure standards, ensuring effective firefighting capabilities across the county. The city of Baltimore, which owns the public water system, conducts hydrant tests on a nine-year cycle for over 14,000 hydrants in the county.

In contrast, the sewer system continues to face challenges. The 2025 basic services map identified one deficient area and five areas of concern, unchanged from the previous year. The deficient area is the Richland Manor Wastewater Treatment Plant in Perry Hall, which experiences capacity issues during heavy rainfall. Efforts are underway to rehabilitate the plant and construct a new pumping station to alleviate these problems.

The areas of concern include Herring Run in Parkville, Marnat Road, Brooklynville, Powder Mill, and Catonsville. Each of these areas has experienced temporary sewer overflows during heavy rain due to system overloads. Significant rehabilitation work has been completed in many of these locations, including the elimination of illegal connections and the construction of relief sewers. However, some areas still require further improvements, particularly those dependent on Baltimore City’s infrastructure upgrades.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from the Department of Public Works to continue addressing these issues through coordinated efforts with other agencies. The progress made in 2024, including the installation of over 18,000 feet of new or replacement sewer mains, demonstrates the county's ongoing dedication to improving its sewer system. The board will continue to monitor these developments closely as they work towards eliminating the identified deficiencies and concerns.