Council gives consensus to fast-track PFAS study and forward-fund lead service-line, Naylor Mill projects

City waterworks staff asked the Salisbury City Council on Feb. 10 to move money and begin design work now so the city can meet state and federal funding deadlines for PFAS treatment and lead service-line replacement.

Corey Cameron, director of Water and Sewer, told council the city is already in about 60% design for PFAS treatment at the Paleo Water Treatment Plant and needs to "fast track" a study at the Park Water Plant to be ready for federal funding rounds next January and to meet a 2029 treatment deadline. "We want to get this moving because we're running out of time," Cameron said.

Cameron and Amanda Pollock from the finance team explained why the city is being asked to forward-fund work. Maryland’s Water Quality Financing Administration uses a reimbursement model: the state does not finalize funding until construction bids are in and the Board of Public Works approves the package. Pollock said the state treats many of these awards as "loan principal forgiveness" (administratively handled like loans but largely forgiven), requiring documentation and a reimbursement flow that means the city must cover early costs until state approvals arrive.

Pollock told council the package under consideration included a proposed transfer of $100,000 to initiate the Park plant study (bench testing at Paleo already planned), an additional $250,000 for the Naylor Mill water-main design/construction cash flow, and $410,000 to kick-start a Phase 1 lead service-line replacement design and initial work for a neighborhood identified in the federal/state award. The ordinance and a related declaration of official intent to borrow prepared by bond counsel were presented so the city could spend before a loan closed.

Council members asked whether the federal/state deadlines were firm; Pollock said next year likely is the last window to apply for PFAS and lead service-line funds allocated under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The council gave consensus to move the budget amendments and the declaration of intent forward to the legislative process.

Staff emphasized outreach and inventories are ongoing: the city submitted a lead service-line inventory to state and federal authorities in October 2024 and still shows 7,528 "unknown" service-line materials from meter to house. Cameron said crews will inspect and, where lead is confirmed, replace the line to the house under the funded program; so far only one private-side lead service line had been confirmed in the surveys.