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Council hears lengthy debate on water and wastewater capacity, I&I, leaks and growth impacts
Summary
City staff reported a series of water‑system leaks, an ongoing inflow and infiltration (I&I) reduction program, 32 active service shutoffs and concerns about wastewater discharge limits; council members debated how I&I projects, impact fees and future development interact with resident ratepayers' costs.
Taneytown officials spent substantial time Sept. 3 reviewing water‑system problems, inflow and infiltration reduction work, and the long‑range implications of development on water and wastewater capacity.
City manager Jim reviewed recent operational issues: a Transite water main leak between Courier Drive and Trevanian Road required valve installs and emergency repair after the leak intensified; Roberts Mill has a seeping valve that staff temporarily patched and plans to replace; and the crews installed valves to isolate a problematic Transite line to allow repairs. Jim said Well 15 at Carroll Vista is producing lower water levels while pumping and encouraged voluntary conservation during the dry stretch.
Staff reported water shutoff activity: prior to shutoff day 130 accounts were listed for potential shutoff, 80 remained the next morning and 32 accounts were ultimately shut off after payment activity reduced some delinquencies. The city manager asked residents to conserve water during the dry period.
On wastewater capacity and I&I, staff described ongoing manhole rehabilitation and other projects that have reduced dry weather flows but noted the plant’s nutrient and discharge limits (MDE permit) and daily flow capacity remain primary constraints on development. The manager explained how I&I reductions translate into available capacity (estimated by engineering standards such as gallons per dwelling per day) and that even substantial I&I work yields only finite additional EDU (equivalent dwelling unit) capacity. He noted the plant’s 1.1 million gallon‑per‑day capacity and said the town’s three‑year average flows had been near 80% of permitted levels.
Council members debated the distribution of benefits from I&I projects: some argued that system maintenance paid by current ratepayers effectively frees capacity that future developers will use, putting the town in a cycle where residents pay for infrastructure that supports new development without getting rate reductions. Others said reducing I&I is necessary maintenance that improves system efficiency, benefits existing customers and enables economic growth, and that new development will generate additional ratepayers and impact fee revenue to offset costs.
Staff also reported progress on several projects: Riffles Lane storm drain construction was substantially complete; the sewer manhole rehabilitation contract has been signed by the mayor and start dates will be announced; and the town received $25,000 in Main Street improvement funds from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for manager salary support. Jim also noted receipt of a second installment from the PFAS class‑action settlement with 3M, reported in the meeting packet as approximately $241,009.57.
No new policy was adopted at the workshop; council engaged in detailed policy and fiscal discussion and asked staff to continue modeling capacity, I&I reductions and fiscal impacts for future planning work and the ongoing comprehensive plan update.
