Baltimore weighs converting costly membrane plant to conventional wastewater system

Baltimore officials said they are awaiting a consultant’s on‑site study before deciding whether to convert the village’s membrane wastewater treatment plant to a conventional system or invest in interim upgrades. Staff reported that consultants from V3 and other engineers inspected the wastewater plant recently and are preparing findings on whether a conventional plant would be feasible on available real estate and what the timeline and costs would be. Officials said the existing membrane plant has high operating costs and frequent membrane plugging, which has raised electricity and maintenance expenses. Council members and staff discussed a potential purchase of a sludge press to improve the existing plant’s efficiency as an interim step. Staff said prior estimates for a sludge press and electrical hook‑up were close to $1 million. They said the choice between converting to a conventional plant and smaller efficiency investments depends on the consultant’s timeline — if conversion is years away, the sludge press might be a better near‑term investment. Staff also said the EPA has signaled a preference for a conventional plant during recent certification talks, and that EPA feedback influenced updates to the village’s I&I (inflow and infiltration) plan. No formal conversion decision was made; the committee expects a recommendation after it receives the consultant’s written report and cost estimates. Ending: Staff will return with the consultant’s written findings and cost comparisons, after which council members expect to discuss whether to budget for a sludge press, pursue a conversion, or take other steps.