Hampstead administrator says water pipeline construction started; treatment plant bids set for Sept. 4

Town Administrator Jim told the Hampstead Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday that pipeline construction for the town’s water system project has begun on the Main Street portion of the route and that the town has scheduled a Sept. 4 bid opening for contracts to build two new water treatment plants.

“We have a bid opening date of September 4. We're hoping that we can stick to that,” Jim said. He added that the town has released three addenda to the contract documents and that one addendum is currently under review by the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Jim described the pipeline sequencing: crews are starting in the Main Street area near the tennis courts and will run north in the northbound lane to just past Green Mountain Station Road, then move to Upper Ford Lane and later to the Shiloh area in front of Hampstead Elementary. The pipeline route also includes a run from an existing pump house up Wellesley through a field, under Shiloh and the bypass, then up the hill to the new pump station.

Timing and next steps: Jim told the commission that, because of procurement and contracting timelines, construction of the new water treatment plants is not expected to begin until February or March 2026. "I would not expect construction on the water treatment plants to begin until probably February or March 2026," he said, citing the time needed to award contracts and finalize details.

Officials also noted coordination plans with the Carroll County Public Schools for the segment that passes in front of Hampstead Elementary to avoid disrupting student drop-off and pick-up. The administrator said staff will continue to work with state and county reviewers to finalize permits and contracts.

No formal action was taken by the commission on this item; it was an informational update from town staff.