Worcester County to request Ocean City buy 170,000 gpd of sewer capacity to serve The Landings and Assateague Point

Worcester County commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 16 to ask Ocean City to buy 170,000 gallons per day of sewer capacity so wastewater from The Landings and Assateague Point service areas can be sent to Ocean City for treatment.

The request was presented by Dallas Baker, the county’s director of public works, who told commissioners the county added “a 15% factor of safety” to the capacity request and explained why the county is seeking Ocean City’s treatment: The Landings treatment plant is rated for 100,000 gallons per day but its injection wells can only remove about 36,000 gpd. Baker said the county had estimated alternatives, including a long pipeline and storage lagoons, that would cost roughly $30 million if Ocean City does not accept the flow.

“If we can send this flow to Ocean City for their treatment, there’s significant benefit,” Baker said, citing a 2023 Oxford plant upgrade that the county’s memo put at about $4 million in design/administration plus $16.5 million in construction to move from lagoon treatment to enhanced nutrient removal.

Commissioner Michael McDermott moved that the commission “have the president and vice president attend a work session of the mayor and city council of Ocean City, and request this proposal.” Commissioner Purnell seconded the motion. The roll call was unanimous with five commissioners voting in favor and two absent.

Why it matters: Baker told the commission the Landings plant’s injection well limits and potential future state pressure to require enhanced nutrient removal at lagoon systems make offloading to Ocean City potentially far less costly for county taxpayers. He estimated about $1 million in pipeline work would be needed to connect to the West Ocean City service area and bypass a nearby Mystic Harbor plant.

What commissioners asked and confirmed: Commissioner Bertino asked whether the requested purchase included any operating restrictions; Baker said the public-works request was “just to straight buy the 170,000” EDUs and did not include restrictions. Commissioner Fiore highlighted the county memo’s total-cost estimate if the purchase is not approved — “approximately $30,000,000” — and Baker confirmed that figure.

Next steps: The commission’s motion directs county leadership to pursue a formal work session with Ocean City elected officials to present the county’s proposal and seek their agreement to purchase the capacity. Staff will return with any developments to the commission.