Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Water Sewer topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County presents countywide water and sewer implementation plan, cites phased projects and need for state funding
Summary
Wicomico County public works and an outside technical adviser presented a multi-year water and sewer implementation plan June 17, outlining phased projects in Salisbury neighborhoods, Parsonsburg/Pittsville and a West-side regional study and recommending a three-member sanitary commission to oversee program rollout.
Wicomico County public works officials and technical advisers presented a countywide water and sewer implementation update during a June 17 work session, outlining a phased approach to sewer extensions and system upgrades and identifying next steps for engineering, funding and intergovernmental agreements.
Adam Corey, Executive Director of Environmental Services, and Amanda Pollock of the Center for Watershed Protection reviewed five project areas identified in the county's 2021 master plan and discussed steps already taken to move discrete projects from planning toward design. Key points:
- Salisbury neighborhoods: Three pockets adjacent to Salisbury city limits (Delano Avenue area, the President's Neighborhood, and Regency Drive/Buckingham Circle) were selected as early projects because they can be served primarily by gravity sewer. KCI completed concept-level plans with a current cost estimate of about $8.6 million for the combined areas; the county has applied for State Revolving Fund (SRF) funding and seeks reimbursement for design costs if construction funds are awarded.
- Parsonsburg/Pittsville: County staff described coordination with Pittsville's planned wastewater-plant upgrade. Parsonsburg-area service depends on Pittsville securing an upgraded plant and the county obtaining a priority funding-area (PFA) designation or exemption for mobile-home parks identified by the health department.
- West-side regional alternatives: The county is studying whether a single regional plant serving Mardela Springs, Sharptown and Hebron is feasible or whether a set of smaller, localized upgrades is preferable. A draft preliminary engineering report was just delivered and is under review.
- Sanitary commission: Staff proposed a three-member sanitary commission, appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the council, with staggered six-year terms and technical expertise in engineering, finance or related fields. The commission would meet quarterly and advise public works on water and sewer projects.
Corey and Pollock emphasized the complexity of funding: many projects require state or federal construction grants and loan programs; the county's budgeting for design work and the coordination of municipal out-of-town service agreements are critical next steps. The county will pursue SRF and USDA/other grants where appropriate and asked the council to support continued funding for design and outreach so projects can be shovel-ready when construction funding becomes available.
